CHANDLER, Ariz. – The induction of Chandler native and former Mayor, Vice Mayor, Councilmember and State Senator Jay Tibshraeny as the 2025 Celebration Plaza honoree celebrates his years of service and instrumental leadership for shaping Chandler’s financial stability, economic prosperity and quality of life.
Tibshraeny served seven terms as Chandler’s Mayor and a total of 24 years on the City Council. He strengthened the city’s finances through the adoption of a series of financial policies and practices that remain in use today and have made Chandler one the most financially stable cities in the country.
He offered a steady hand that guided the community’s high growth periods of the 1980s and 1990s through investments in parks, recreation and transportation. Partnerships with Chandler Unified School District enabled the co-location of aquatic centers, libraries and a performance arts center on high school campuses.
Under Tibshraeny’s leadership, Chandler was the first city to use a new financing option to accelerate the completion of the Loop 101 Price Freeway, which fostered the opening of the Chandler Fashion Center and development in the Price Corridor. He was a steadfast champion for the Price Corridor and helped usher in thousands of high wage jobs that fortified Chandler’s status as the Innovation and Technology Hub of the Southwest.
Tibshraeny was nationally honored in 2013 as the Municipal Leader of the Year by American City and County Magazine, in large part, for his role in economic development and specifically, for creating, protecting and preserving the Price Corridor for employment uses. His leadership of the Four Corner Retail Study and Adaptive Reuse Program provided a foundation for the infill and redevelopment of commercial areas in Uptown Chandler.
He created a number of initiatives following the Great Recession that fostered job opportunities and university partnerships, connected residents through neighborhood outreach, promoted transparency through technology and created a healthier community in terms of mental, physical and financial health. With the community’s support and investments in public safety, Chandler experienced low crime rates and excellent services.
His advocacy for parks and recreation amenities helped establish the Paseo Trail, Chandler Museum and new park amenities, including bike and skate parks. In 2015, he received the Outstanding Public Official Award from the Arizona Parks and Recreation Association, and the Chandler Tennis Center was named the nation’s Featured Facility by the U.S. Tennis Association.
Timeline of Tibshraeny’s service to Chandler:
1980 – 1986: Appointed and served on the Planning and Zoning Commission
1986 – 1990: Elected to City Council and served as Councilmember
1990 - 1994: Reelected to the City Council and served as Vice Mayor
1994 – 2002 and 2011 – 2019: Elected and served seven terms as Mayor
2003 – 2010: Elected and served as Arizona State Senator
2019 – 2022: Elected and served as Justice of the Peace for the San Marcos District of the Maricopa County Justice Court
He also represented Chandler on the League of Arizona Cities and Towns, Maricopa Association of Governments, Arizona Commerce Authority, East Valley Partnership and Greater Phoenix Economic Council.
Celebration Plaza, a permanent water feature and monument wall near the center of Tumbleweed Park, is a place where the Chandler City Council recognizes organizations or individuals for their civic leadership, public outreach and outstanding personal service and commitment to the community. Nominations are open to members of the public each year. After nominations are made, the Chandler Museum Foundation forwards recommendations to the Chandler City Council for final selection.
-30-