Corey Woods

Corey Woods
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, Mayor of Tempe, Arizona
Title	Mayor of Tempe, Arizona
Known for	Serving as Mayor of Tempe, Arizona

Corey Woods is an American politician serving as the Mayor of Tempe, Arizona. As the leader of one of the largest cities in the Phoenix metropolitan area, Woods has overseen a period of significant growth and development in Tempe while navigating challenges ranging from natural disasters to contentious municipal policy debates. His tenure has been marked by efforts to reduce violent crime, manage urban growth, and foster bipartisan dialogue in an era of increasing political polarization. Woods has gained attention both locally and nationally for his pragmatic approach to municipal governance and his willingness to reverse course on policies that draw significant public opposition.

Career

Mayor of Tempe

Corey Woods serves as the Mayor of Tempe, Arizona, a city situated in the East Valley of the greater Phoenix metropolitan area. In this capacity, Woods has presided over a period of continued growth for the city, balancing the benefits of development with the challenges that accompany urban expansion.

Parks Ordinance Controversy

In September 2025, Woods and the Tempe City Council faced significant public backlash over a controversial parks ordinance. The policy had generated intense community opposition, and residents mounted a campaign that included the threat of a referendum or recall effort in response to the measure. Faced with this sustained pressure, the City Council voted to rescind the ordinance. Woods voted in favor of the rescission, explaining his reasoning in a public discussion about the decision. The episode illustrated both the contentious nature of municipal policymaking in a growing city and Woods's stated willingness to respond to constituent concerns, even when it required reversing a previous council action.

2025 Microburst and Emergency Declaration

On October 13, 2025, a severe storm struck the Tempe area, bringing with it a destructive microburst that caused widespread damage across the city. The storm left a trail of devastation, damaging homes, businesses, trees, and infrastructure throughout affected neighborhoods. The severity of the event prompted immediate concern about public safety and the extent of recovery efforts that would be required.

Two days later, on October 15, 2025, Woods signed a formal state of emergency declaration for the city. In public statements, the mayor described Tempe residents as "traumatized" by the destruction wrought by the storm, underscoring the human toll of the natural disaster beyond the physical damage to property and infrastructure. The emergency declaration was a procedural step intended to open pathways toward securing state and potentially federal funding to assist with the recovery and rebuilding process. The declaration formalized the scope of the disaster and positioned the city to seek external financial assistance for cleanup, repair, and restoration efforts.

The emergency response tested the city's disaster preparedness infrastructure and required coordination among multiple city departments and agencies. Woods's handling of the crisis, including the swift issuance of the emergency declaration, drew coverage from multiple regional news outlets.

2025 State of the City Address

On December 3, 2025, Woods delivered the annual State of the City address for Tempe. In his remarks, the mayor highlighted several areas of progress, including what he described as notable reductions in violent crime within the city. Woods praised the collective efforts of city employees, community organizations, and residents in achieving these outcomes, framing the improvements as the result of collaborative governance rather than any single initiative.

The address also touched upon the broader trajectory of Tempe's development, acknowledging both the positive and negative dimensions of the city's continued growth. City officials who participated in the annual event addressed the expanding population base, new commercial and residential development, and the infrastructure and service demands that accompany such expansion. The presentations provided a comprehensive overview of the city's status and the challenges municipal leaders expected to face in the coming year.

The State of the City event served as a public accounting of the administration's priorities and accomplishments, and it reflected Woods's emphasis on transparency and community engagement in municipal governance. The address covered a range of topics relevant to Tempe residents, from public safety statistics to economic development initiatives and quality-of-life improvements.

Bipartisan Engagement and National Profile

Woods has attracted attention beyond Tempe for his efforts to promote bipartisan cooperation in local governance. In June 2025, the National League of Cities highlighted Woods alongside former Mesa Mayor John Giles as examples of Arizona mayors working across party lines to address political polarization. The two leaders were profiled for their efforts to foster constructive public dialogue at a time when partisan divisions were increasingly affecting municipal politics across the United States.

The National League of Cities feature positioned Woods as part of a broader movement among local elected officials seeking to model a different approach to governance — one that prioritized pragmatic problem-solving and interparty collaboration over ideological rigidity. The profile noted that Woods and Giles were actively working to create frameworks for productive conversation in their respective communities, aiming to demonstrate that local government could function effectively regardless of partisan identity.

This national recognition reflected a growing interest in how municipal leaders were responding to the challenges of governing in a polarized political environment. For Woods, the profile reinforced his reputation as a mayor oriented toward practical outcomes and consensus-building rather than partisan positioning.

Governance and Leadership Style

Across the various episodes and initiatives documented during his tenure, Woods has demonstrated a governance style characterized by several recurring themes. His decision to vote for rescinding the controversial parks ordinance suggested a responsiveness to public sentiment, even at the cost of reversing a previous policy position. His handling of the October 2025 microburst, including the rapid declaration of a state of emergency, indicated a willingness to take decisive administrative action in crisis situations. And his participation in bipartisan dialogue through the National League of Cities reflected an interest in positioning Tempe as a model for constructive local governance.

The 2025 State of the City address served as a summation of these themes, with Woods emphasizing collaborative achievement and acknowledging both the successes and ongoing challenges facing the city. The address's focus on crime reduction statistics and growth management suggested that public safety and sustainable development remained central priorities for the administration.

Personal Life

Limited publicly documented information is available regarding Woods's personal life outside of his political career. He resides in Tempe, Arizona, where he serves as mayor.

Recognition

Woods has received recognition from national municipal organizations for his approach to local governance. In 2025, the National League of Cities featured Woods in a profile alongside former Mesa Mayor John Giles, highlighting the two Arizona mayors as examples of elected officials working to bridge partisan divides at the local level. The profile noted their collaborative efforts to promote constructive public dialogue and reduce political polarization in their communities.

The 2025 State of the City address provided another platform for recognition of the city's achievements under Woods's leadership, with the mayor citing reductions in violent crime and other metrics as evidence of progress during his administration. Coverage of the address in regional media outlets reflected the public interest in Tempe's trajectory under Woods's stewardship.

Woods's handling of the October 2025 microburst emergency also drew significant media attention, with coverage from multiple Phoenix-area television stations and news outlets documenting his response to the natural disaster. The emergency declaration and subsequent recovery efforts placed Woods in a prominent public role during a period of crisis for the community.