Meet Tempe's newest and returning councilmembers and a new Vice Mayor too

Councilmembers Jennifer Adams, Arlene Chin and Berdetta Hodge will continue to serve their terms.

PUBLISHED JUL 2, 2024

Here's a primer on all the new and returning members.

Tempe, Arizona: Tempe City Council's newest and returning members have been sworn in as they start their four-year terms. Mayor Corey Woods (second term), Councilmembers Doreen Garlid (second term), Randy Keating and Councilmember-elect Nikki Amberg will be sworn in for four-years. Councilmembers Jennifer Adams, Arlene Chin and Berdetta Hodge will continue to serve their terms. Here's a primer on all the new and returning members.

Corey Woods, Mayor

Corey Woods was first elected mayor of Tempe in March 2020. He is currently the Executive Director of Community Relations at ASU Preparatory Academy. Woods has held key roles like COO for the Greater Phoenix Urban League and Director of Government Relations for the American Lung Association of Arizona. He served on the Tempe City Council from 2008 to 2016. Woods was named the 2022 'Advocate of the Year' by the Arizona Housing Coalition. He holds positions in the US Conference of Mayors and the National League of Cities. Woods graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in Political Science and earned a Master’s in Educational Policy from ASU.

Doreen Garlid, Councilmember and Vice Mayor

Doreen Garlid was elected as Vice Mayor of Tempe on July 1, 2024.

Doreen Garlid was elected to the Tempe City Council in 2020 and re-elected in March 2024. On July 1, 2024, she was elected Vice Mayor, becoming the first Native American on the Council as a member of the Navajo Nation.

Since joining the Council, she has been a strong advocate in the city’s efforts to restore the Park Ranger Program, creating a Tobacco License registry, raising the minimum age for purchasing tobacco products to 21, creating the Sober Living Task Force, advocating for the Mental Health Roadmap, and achieve our city’s designation as an Age-Friendly Community by the American Association of Retired Persons.

Nikki Amberg, Councilmember

Amberg's civic journey began with her involvement on the Tempe Community Council Board

Nikki Amberg has lived in Tempe for 25 years. Arriving in Tempe through Louisiana after graduating from Louisiana State University, Amberg has a passion for public policy and non-profit work,

Her experience spans a broad spectrum, from active involvement in political campaigns to serving on nonprofit boards and spearheading fundraising initiatives. Amberg's civic journey began with her involvement on the Tempe Community Council Board. Most recently, after a year working within the administration of Tempe, Nikki realized that the most impactful way to bring about substantial change was to step into the forefront of decision-making.

Randy Keating, Councilmember

Randy Keating led the effort to establish the city's Tempe Works jobs program.

Randy Keating's journey from citizen to a City Council member is marked by a series of accomplishments from Adaptive Parks and Affordable Housing Opportunities to Youth Suicide Prevention and Opioid Awareness and Abusive Prevention.

Keating led the effort to establish the city's Tempe Works jobs program for people who are unsheltered. A first-in-the-nation program, Tempe Works connects people with jobs, housing and resources to help end their homelessness.

Keating also pushed to create the desert conservation board to oversee plans and proposed changes to Tempe’s desert parks which include Tempe’s portion of the Papago Park Preserve and the Hayden Butte Preserve. Currently, he remains active with the Kiwanis Club of Tempe and the Tempe Diablos Foundation.