Tempe entered a new era Thursday with the inauguration of Mayor Hugh Hallman, the first new mayor the city has elected in 10 years.
Hallman, a former city councilman and local attorney, took over the city's top position from Neil Giuliano, a longtime civil servant and ASU employee.
The Tempe City Council also welcomed a new face Thursday at Hallman's swearing-in ceremony. Councilman Hut Hutson replaced Dennis Cahill on the City Council. Cahill let his position expire when he ran against Hallman earlier this year
for the mayor's position instead of seeking to reclaim his council seat.
Looking forward
At the inauguration ceremony, Hallman said one of his top priorities as mayor will be to build cooperation between Tempe and neighboring cities in order to develop a "regional economy and community."
"Tempe's success is dependent on the success of our surrounding communities," he said.
Leaders from areas including Scottsdale, Mesa, Gilbert and the Salt River Pima Indian Community attended the inauguration to show their support for the new mayor.
Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon was unable to be in Tempe for the ceremony but told audience members via speakerphone he agreed with Hallman's desire to build community partnerships.
"We won't always agree, but we'll do our best to get agreement," Gordon said.
One example of this regional collaboration was evident early last week when Hallman announced his support for ASU's plans to open a research park in Scottsdale. While the University is one of Tempe's biggest partners, expanding ASU to the city's neighbor to the north will benefit both communities, Hallman said.
ASU's role
Besides endorsing the University's collaboration with Scottsdale, Hallman said during his mayoral campaign that he began building a relationship with the University last year when he lobbied the legislature to help secure funding for the Biodesign Institute.
ASU President Michael Crow said he has already met with Hallman several times since he was elected in March to discuss the future relationship between ASU and Tempe.
Crow said he is optimistic about future collaborations between the school and the city.
"Tempe and ASU, we're wedded together. We need a lot of things from them and they need a lot of things from us," Crow said.
One of those partnerships will be to speed up the development of the ASU Gateway Project, the nearly vacant shopping center at Mill Avenue and University Drive that will house several University programs, including the W.P. Carey School of Business.
As the administration works closely with Tempe leadership, Crow said he hoped students would also become more vocal and visible in city affairs.
"The more the students can interact with the council will help with [communication]," he said. "The council just wants to make the city more livable, and we can work toward that end."
Not goodbye
Hallman's inauguration ends Giuliano's 14-year career in city politics. Giuliano was first elected to the City Council in 1990 and began his 10-year stay in the mayor's office in 1994.
One of Giuliano's most visible accomplishments during his tenure was the construction of Tempe Town Lake. To honor that achievement and his years of service to the city, Tempe will name the lakefront park between Rural Road and the Mill Avenue bridges after Giuliano, said City Councilwoman Barb Carter.
But while Giuliano will no longer be spending the majority of his days in City Hall, he will not be disappearing from Tempe altogether, Carter added.
"I know you'll stay involved in this city -- you've got too much invested in it not to," she said.
In fact, Giuliano's next project will bring the national spotlight to both Tempe and ASU -- the former mayor said he will be concentrating on organizing the final debate between President George W. Bush and Sen. John Kerry before November's presidential election. The debate will be held in Gammage Auditorium on Oct. 13.
Giuliano has also been an ASU employee for the tenure of his political career. He is currently the director of community relations for ASU's Office of Public Affairs.
Giuliano said he is appreciative of current and former ASU leadership that allowed him to serve the city in office while working at the University.
"My public service would not have been possible without the support of the institution I love," Giuliano said.
Reach the reporter at amanda.keim@asu.edu.
