Phil Gordon (politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Phil Gordon
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| 58th Mayor of Phoenix | |
| In office January 2, 2004 – January 2, 2012 |
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| Preceded by | Skip Rimsza |
| Succeeded by | Greg Stanton |
| Phoenix City Council | |
| In office January 5, 1997 – October 30, 2004 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | April 18, 1951 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | University of Arizona Arizona State University |
Phil Gordon (born April 18, 1951) is an American politician. He served as the 58th mayor of Phoenix, Arizona, from 2004 to 2012. Before becoming mayor, he was a member of the Phoenix City Council. Gordon is part of the Democratic Party.
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Early Life and Education
Phil Gordon was born in Chicago, Illinois. He is the oldest of three children. His family moved to Phoenix, Arizona, in 1960. There, Phil went to Madison Meadows Elementary and Middle School. He also attended Central High School.
After high school, Phil Gordon studied at the University of Arizona. He earned a bachelor's degree in education. Later, he continued his studies at Arizona State University to learn about law.
Early Career and Public Service
Phil Gordon worked in many different jobs. He was a school teacher and a lawyer. He also owned a business and was the chairman of a photography company. He served on the Madison School Board, helping to guide local schools.
In 1996, Gordon worked for a former Phoenix Mayor. This experience made him want to help the city even more. He decided to run for a position on the Phoenix City Council. He promised to make neighborhoods safer and was elected in 1997. He was re-elected in 2001.
Time as Mayor of Phoenix
Phil Gordon was elected mayor of Phoenix on September 9, 2003. He won with 72 percent of the votes. He officially became mayor on January 2, 2004. He was re-elected for a second term on September 11, 2007, winning with 77 percent of the votes.
Improving Downtown Phoenix
During his time as mayor, Gordon focused a lot on making downtown Phoenix better. He and other city leaders invested over $1 billion in the city's center. These projects included updating the Phoenix Convention Center. They also built a new Sheraton hotel. Another big project was creating a downtown campus for Arizona State University. These efforts helped bring new life and activity to the city's core.
Transportation and Community Issues
Mayor Gordon strongly supported a large transportation plan for Phoenix. This plan, worth $1.1 billion, aimed to improve how people get around the city. Phoenix voters approved this plan in March 2000.
He also spoke out about important community issues. For example, he disagreed with a state law called Arizona SB 1070. He believed this law was not fair and could cause problems.
In 2008, President George W. Bush chose Mayor Gordon for a special group. This group traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the State of Israel.
See also
- List of mayors of Phoenix
- Timeline of Phoenix, Arizona, 2000s-2010s
