Corey Woods (mayor) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Corey Woods
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Woods in 2024
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| Mayor of Tempe | |
| Assumed office July 2, 2020 |
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| Preceded by | Mark Mitchell |
| Member of The Tempe City Council | |
| In office July 17, 2008 – July 7, 2016 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | December 7, 1978 |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | B.A. University of Michigan M.A. Arizona State University |
Corey Donald Woods, born on December 7, 1978, is an American politician. He has been the mayor of Tempe, Arizona, since 2020. Woods is a member of the Democratic Party.
Contents
About Corey Woods
Early Life and Education
Corey Woods was born in 1978. He went to the University of Michigan. In 2000, he earned a bachelor's degree in political science there. Later, in 2018, he got a master's degree. This degree was in educational policy from Arizona State University.
Starting in Politics
Woods began his political career in Tempe. He was a member of the Tempe City Council. He served on the council from 2008 to 2016. During this time, he also held the position of Tempe's Vice Mayor.
In 2020, Woods ran for mayor of Tempe. He won against the mayor at the time, Mark Mitchell. This made him the first African-American mayor of Tempe. He was also the second African-American mayor in all of Arizona.
Mayor of Tempe: Key Projects
Helping with Housing
As mayor, Corey Woods has worked hard on affordable housing. This means making sure people can find homes they can afford. He started a program called "Hometown for All." This program creates a special fund. The fund helps buy properties and turn them into affordable homes. These homes are meant to stay affordable for a long time.
Health and Safety Innovations
During his time as mayor, Tempe worked with Arizona State University. They created a new way to track health. They monitored wastewater to check for COVID-19 cases. Tempe was the first city in the country to do this. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention even gave them a grant to expand the program.
Tempe also started a new program in 2022. It helps people who call 911 for non-violent emergencies. Dispatchers now work with counselors. These counselors have experience in psychology and social work. This helps them respond better to calls where police might not be needed.
Improving Transportation
A big transportation project was finished during his term. The Tempe Streetcar transit line was completed in 2022. This new streetcar helps people get around Tempe easily.
State and National Roles
In 2022, the Arizona State Legislature asked him to join a special committee. This committee was called the Housing Supply Study Committee. Its job was to find ways to solve Arizona's housing shortage.
Also in 2022, the United States Conference of Mayors chose him for an important role. He became Vice Chair of their Community Development and Housing Standing Committee. This group works to help create more affordable housing across the country.
Sports and Community Projects
Woods supported a large project for the Arizona Coyotes hockey team. This project would have included a new arena. In 2023, Tempe residents voted on the project. However, the voters decided not to approve the new arena.
