Corey Woods

Corey Donald Woods (born December 7, 1978) is an American politician serving as the mayor of Tempe, Arizona since 2020. Woods is a member of the Democratic Party.

Biography In 2000, he graduated with a B.A. in political science from the University of Michigan. In 2018, he graduated with a M.A. in educational policy from Arizona State University.

While mayor, he focused on the creation of affordable housing. He founded "Hometown for All" which created an investment fund that would purchase properties and convert them into permanent affordable housing units. Tempe received a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expand the program.

In July 2022, Woods was appointed by the United States Conference of Mayors as Vice Chair of the Community Development and Housing Standing Committee tasked "to influence national policies that will increase affordable and workforce housing opportunities."

Woods had previously supported the development of the $2.1 billion Arizona Coyotes Entertainment District (including a New Tempe Arena) that would have hosted the NHL team permanently. However, the new arena in Tempe was ultimately rejected by the city's voters. In October 2024, it was discovered that Woods and several councilmembers illegally held three secret meetings during November and December 2022 with Strategy Forty-Eight, a consulting group the council had hired to monitor social media opposition to the new arena plan. He also secured a city council vote for South Pier at Tempe Town Lake, a $1.8 billion 2,500 unit luxury apartment development. The project is currently on hold due to litigation over the granting of an 8-year tax abatement to the developer and its lack of affordable housing.