Kate Gallego facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kate Gallego
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| 62nd Mayor of Phoenix | |
| Assumed office March 21, 2019 |
|
| Preceded by | Thelda Williams |
| Member of the Phoenix City Council from the 8th district |
|
| In office January 2, 2014 – August 7, 2018 |
|
| Preceded by | Michael Johnson |
| Succeeded by | Felicita Mendoza |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Katharine Sarah Widland
October 21, 1981 Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | Harvard University (BA) University of Pennsylvania (MBA) |
Kate Gallego (born October 21, 1981) is an American politician. She is currently the mayor of Phoenix, Arizona. She became mayor in 2019. Before that, she was a member of the Phoenix City Council from 2014 to 2018. She belongs to the Democratic Party.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Kate Gallego grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her parents are lawyers. They moved to Albuquerque from Chicago.
When she was a child, Kate had asthma. This made her care a lot about clean air.
She went to Albuquerque Academy for high school. She was the vice president of the student body there. She later earned a degree in environmental studies from Harvard College. She also got a business degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Political Career
Before becoming a politician, Kate Gallego worked for the Arizona Democratic Party. She also worked for the Arizona Office of Tourism. She helped with economic planning for the Salt River Project.
On November 5, 2013, Gallego was chosen to be on the Phoenix City Council. She represented the 8th district. She was reelected in 2017.
When the mayor of Phoenix, Greg Stanton, decided to run for a different job, Kate Gallego announced she would run for mayor. She left the city council on August 7, 2018.
Becoming Mayor
The city of Phoenix has elections for mayor where candidates do not run as members of a political party. In the 2018 special election, Kate Gallego and Daniel Valenzuela moved on to a final vote. They both belonged to the Democratic Party.
Kate Gallego won the election for mayor in 2019. She received 58.6% of the votes. She started her job as mayor on March 21, 2019. She is only the second woman to be mayor of Phoenix. She is also one of the youngest mayors in a big U.S. city.
In 2020, Kate Gallego ran for re-election. She won again with the most votes ever in a mayoral election in Phoenix. She received 60.7% of the votes. In March 2024, she said she plans to run for mayor again.
.jpg)
Climate Change Efforts
During Kate Gallego's time as mayor, Phoenix has worked to fight the urban heat island effect. This is when cities get much hotter than the areas around them. This problem is made worse by climate change. Rising temperatures in Phoenix could cost a lot of money each year.
To help, the city is creating "cool corridors." They are planting trees that can live in the desert. They are also using lighter-colored sidewalks and streets. This is especially true in places where many people walk and there is little shade. The city uses a special tool to decide where to plant trees. This tool helps make sure that all neighborhoods get enough shade.
Phoenix has also opened one of the first city offices in the U.S. to deal with heat. This office will help Phoenix with climate issues. It will also share ideas with people and cities around the world.
Community Safety
In 2018, the Phoenix police department had many shooting incidents. This led the community to ask for more police accountability. In 2020, Mayor Gallego suggested a plan for a citizens review board. This board would help balance the needs of the police and the community.
The city council later approved a different plan for the review board. This plan focused on giving more power to the citizens review board. It was created with ideas from community groups.
In August 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice started an investigation. They are looking into whether the police used too much force. They are also looking at how the police handle homeless people and their belongings.
Housing and Transportation
Mayor Gallego supported a law that made it legal to build small extra homes on properties. These are called accessory dwelling units. Before, these areas were only for single-family houses.
In January 2024, Mayor Gallego was chosen to join a special committee. This committee advises the U.S. Department of Transportation. It helps find ways to make public transportation better.
Personal Life
Kate Gallego met her husband, Ruben Gallego, while they were both at Harvard. They moved to Phoenix in 2004. They got married in 2010. They announced their divorce in 2016, before their son, Michael, was born.
See Also
- List of mayors of the 50 largest cities in the United States
