City of Mesa, Arizona

As a first-time political candidate, Scott Smith was elected Mayor of Mesa, Arizona in May of 2008.   

The Mayor’s private sector experience as a business consultant and homebuilder allowed him to usher in a new era of decisive leadership and civic engagement.  Within weeks of taking office in 2008, Mesa found itself in an unprecedented budget crisis. Smith restructured city departments and operations and cut more than $65 million from Mesa’s operating budget. While these cuts were deep, swift action enabled Mesa to handle the fiscal downturn early with fewer disruptions than many neighboring cities.

After stabilizing the City’s financial situation, Smith lead a successful effort to keep Chicago Cubs spring training in Mesa - securing the future of a 50-year baseball tradition in the Cactus League and a powerful tourism driver in the region.

Most recently, Mayor Smith helped bring Benedictine University and Westminster College to downtown Mesa. These are the first private university in downtown but certainly won't be the last with more colleges and universities ready to commit. The Mayor's H.E.A.T. (healthcare, education, aerospace, tourism/technology) Initiative for Economic Development has been the driver in many of the success Mesa has enjoyed over the past few years. These new options for higher education opportunities in Mesa are delivering on the "E" in H.E.A.T.

During his 2012 annual state-of-the-city breakfast, Mayor Smith announced StartUpMesa, a new initiative to make Mesa the most business-friendly city in America. StartUpMesa will expand collaboration between business and government, empower and strengthen small business, expand access to capital, provide entrepreneurship education and remove barriers to success.

In January 2011, Mayor Smith unveiled iMesa, an exciting initiative designed to invigorate Mesa through transformative community projects. Leveraging technology for civic engagement, iMesa is a grassroots improvement effort where residents submit, vote and comment on ideas that will transform the community. 

As a strong proponent of regional solutions, Mayor Smith serves in key roles on many local, state and national boards and committees. Most recently, Smith was elected as the Second Vice President of the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM). He will become the organization's president in 2013 and the first Arizona mayor to serve as president of the organization.

The Wall Street Journal, Politico and the Arizona Republic have run op ed pieces about the national debt crisis co-authored by Smith,  USCM President Antonio Villaraigosa (Los Angeles) and Vice President Michael Nutter (Philadelphia). Smith has also been featured on Bloomberg TV, MSNBC with Andrea Mitchell, CNBC's Kudlow Report, ABC News with Diane Sawyer and in the Washington Post.

Mayor Smith also serves on the Maricopa Association of Governments Regional Council Executive Committee and Transportation Policy Committee, League of Cities and Towns Executive Board, and Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Board. (complete list of boards)

The Arizona Republic named Mayor Smith the city’s MVP, stating that, “Smith is restoring Mesa to its rightful place as a regional leader.  He has strengthened ties with several cities and has gained the confidence of many skeptical residents.  The change is so marked that we shudder to think what shape the city would be in without him at the helm.”

Mayor Smith earned a degree in Accounting from BYU, and MBA and JD degrees from Arizona State.  He and his wife Kim have been married for more than 30 years and have three children and three grandchildren.

Accomplishments