Tempe Town Lake. The 2004 U.S. Presidential Debate. IKEA.
Without Neil Giuliano, Tempe would be a pretty lame place.
The former Tempe mayor (and as of April 1, former ASU community relations director) clocked in more than two decades of public service for the city and ASU before throwing in the towel.
Choosing to deal with ASU administrators for more than 20 years? There should definitely be an award for that.
Beginning his life of service in Tempe as president of the Associated Students of ASU (now known as Undergraduate Student Government), Giuliano moved on to serve as a Tempe city councilman and was then elected mayor, winning his last general election by more than 70 percent.
During that time he kept his ties to the University, instructing classes and working as community relations director.
He has faced many challenges, including publicly coming out as an openly gay Republican mayor in 1996 and facing a recall election in 2001, which he overwhelmingly won.
Through all those challenges, Giuliano managed to make some pretty significant changes in the city.
Under his tenure, Tempe voters passed a citywide smoking ban, approved the construction of a $65 million performing arts center and the Tempe City Council voted to extend the number of bike paths around the city.
In 1995, Giuliano and the City Council created the Human Relations Commission, an organization aimed at promoting diversity and improving community relations between the public and the city.
We will continue to see the fruits of Giuliano's hard work for many years to come. Giuliano helped secure a piece of the Valley Metro light rail line to be built near the University and its downtown Phoenix campus.
Did he accomplish all of these changes on his own? Of course not. He had support from the community, from local business leaders, from council members and from students.
But we know without his leadership, Tempe would not look the way it does today.
And although he is quitting Tempe and ASU, we're pleased to hear that Giuliano may not be finished serving the public.
We're excited to hear reports that he may run for Rep. J.D. Hayworth's, R-Ariz., seat in 2006 if Hayworth decides to run for governor that year.
Even if Hayworth doesn't decide to run, we think Giuliano should spend several more years in public service.
If you think about it, his job really isn't done. The state is not yet smoke-free, and we're sure there are many more places to build lakes filled with beavers.
And, Mr. Giuliano, in case you're reading this -- another IKEA wouldn't hurt.
