Government
How One Conservative Mayor Sold His Suburban Community on a More Urban Future
The GOP leader of Mesa, Arizona, championed a new property tax; loves mass transit; and lured liberal-arts colleges to his city. Can these moves propel him to higher office in a red state?
This article is part of a weeklong America 360 series on Mesa.
MESA, Ariz.—Scott Smith isn't going to be mayor of this city for much longer. In early January, ending months of speculation, he officially announced he's running for governor of Arizona. State election law will force him to resign from his current position by spring.