Corey For Tempe

Corey Woods is running for Tempe mayor in 2020.

Former Tempe Councilman Corey Woods has announced Tuesday he will run for mayor in 2020.

Woods told KJZZ he consulted with Tempe residents and active community members for a year and a half before deciding to run.

“This is a very pivotal time in Tempe history,” Woods said. “When it comes to economic development and affordable housing and our parks and arts and culture, I felt like this would be a good time for me to come back in.”

Woods is currently chief of staff at ASU Preparatory Academy. His education experience includes five years working in the Phoenix Union High School District. 

Woods was the first African American person elected to Tempe’s City Council in 2008. He served on council for eight years and was vice mayor when he decided not to run for reelection in 2016. 

“One of the things I did very well as a council member was the ability to bring groups of people together who might not normally be on the same side of an issue,” Woods said. 

He said some of his accomplishments included work on the city’s anti-discrimination and building re-use ordinances. 

Woods and anyone else interested in running for the open Mayoral or City Council seats in 2020 will have to submit at least 763 signatures this fall. 

Tempe’s current Mayor Mark Mitchell was first elected in 2012.  He told the Arizona Republic he intends to run again in 2020.