John Giles (mayor)

John C. Giles (born 1959/1960) is an American politician serving as the 40th mayor of Mesa, Arizona. A Republican, Giles previously served as a member of the Mesa City Council from 1996 to 2000. Giles was elected mayor of Mesa in a special election following the resignation of then-Mayor Scott Smith. In 2022, Giles was censured by the Arizona Republican Party over his endorsement of Mark Kelly in the 2022 United States Senate election.

Early life and education
Giles was born in Mesa, Arizona. He graduated from Westwood High School in 1978. He attended Brigham Young University, graduating with a political science degree in 1984. Giles received his Juris Doctor degree from the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law in 1987.

Career
Giles works as a lawyer with the firm Giles & Dickson. Giles was the president of the East Valley Bar Association from 1992 until 1993.

He was elected to the Mesa City Council in 1996, serving until 2000, including a term as vice mayor from 1998 until 2000.

Giles is a registered Republican, although the position of mayor is officially nonpartisan. Giles endorsed Democrat Mark Kelly in the 2022 U.S. Senate election.

Mayor of Mesa, Arizona (2014–present)
Following Mayor Scott Smith's resignation in 2014, Giles was elected mayor in a special election, for a term lasting until 2017. He was sworn in on September 18, 2014. In 2016, Giles was reelected to a full four-year term, which is set to last until 2021. Giles began his second full term in January 2021.

As mayor, Giles led the adoption of a city-wide Non Discrimination Ordinance and Climate Action Plan.

Opposition to housing reform
In 2024, Giles was a staunch opponent of bipartisan Arizona state legislation to increase housing supply in the state amid a housing shortage. The legislation proposed to remove red tape and restrict the abilities of Arizona cities from mandating Home Owners Associations, minimum home sizes and community amenities. Giles argued that "silencing our neighborhoods is not the solution to the housing crisis".

Personal life
Giles and his wife, Dawn, have five children and eight grandchildren. Giles is a marathoner and triathlete who has completed two full Ironman competitions, 20 marathons and four Boston Marathons.