U.S. Congressman Harry Mitchell

Nepotism is alive and doing great in the Tempe City Government

Hey, I bet the propaganda writers from the city of Tempe who wrote this article could make Hitler, Stalin and Mao look like fantastic politicians if they could make Harry Mitchell look like a hero.

Harry Mitchell was a tyrant who ruled the city of Tempe with an iron fist, like he ruled his history classroom at Tempe High School with an iron fist.

No wonder this article makes Tempe Tyrant Harry Mitchell look like a hero. This is from a press release put out by the city of Tempe, where Harry Mitchell's son is the mayor.

Reminds me of the North Korea dictatorship where the son took over. He also made his father look like a hero.

Source

Tempe honors Harry Mitchell's service to city

by Caitlin Cruz - Oct. 10, 2012 10:18 AM

The Republic | azcentral.com

Former U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell will accept the 2012 Don Carlos Humanitarian Award tonight for his continued service to the Tempe community.

The award, given by the Tempe Community Council, honors those who give selflessly with no personal gain, organization spokeswoman Emma Gully said.

"We're really excited because Harry has been the beginning for so many good things in Tempe," she said.

Winners are selected after a rigorous review by a volunteer group of past winners and past and present Tempe Community Council board members.

The award is named for Tempe founder Charles Trumbull Hayden, who was referred to as "Don Carlos."

Gully considers the award "coming full circle" because Mitchell was involved in the beginnings of TCC in the early 1970s. TCC was created to act as a bridge between government and local non-profit organizations and volunteers.

"All kinds of non-profits come to the government at budget time asking for money, and politicians don't like to say no," Mitchell said. "All of these programs are all good-sounding programs. We needed to find a way that wasn't involved in politics."

Mitchell's son and current Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell said he believes his dad found the way to do that.

"My dad recognized the true mark of a community was how it took care of less fortunate," he said. "TCC (is used to) help guide the city to use resources for less fortunate."

Mitchell reflected on his political career, including time as a U.S. representative, at a fundraiser for Democratic Senate candidate Richard Carmona on Thursday.

"Everything I've done, whether it's been elected or non-profits or teaching, it's always been with a sense of 'this is what you do in a community,' " Mitchell said. "This is what a community does. They volunteer, they work to better the community, and I've enjoyed every minute of it."

Mitchell's political career began as an observer to his grandfather.

"My grandfather was in the Legislature when I was growing up, and he lived a block away," Mitchell said. "He would get me out of school to spend a day with him at the Legislature.

"When I got old enough to drive, I would put his campaign signs up at night."

Mitchell graduated from Arizona State University with a bachelor's degree in political science in 1962 and a master's in public administration in 1980. He went on to teach American government at Tempe High School in fall 1964.

When the 1970 Tempe municipal elections arrived, an old friend prompted Mitchell to run for office.

"A good friend ... always knew I wanted to run for office," Mitchell said, "not because I was mad at anyone, not because I had an ax to grind. It was just a part of me growing up."

In a crowded field, Mitchell won his first spot on the Tempe City Council. After two terms on the council, he would serve eight terms as Tempe mayor (1978-1994), four terms in the state Senate (1998-2006), and two terms as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives (2007-2011).

"All of it was worthwhile. It was a matter of service," Mitchell said.

Though most of his political career was spent as a nonpartisan member of Tempe's government, Mitchell is a lifelong Democrat.

"People are born as little Republicans or little Democrats, but then you go through a period where you get educated and you learn and it becomes your own choice," Mitchell said. "You may change, you may not, but I think I became even more convinced that I was in the right party.

"My dad was a railroad engineer and he worked hard. Marianne's dad was a butcher. I think my political values are helping those working people. I always believe the best way to advance is through education. You have to remember where you came from, and some people don't."

When reflecting on his political career, Mitchell said he believes that he got the most accomplished in Tempe government.

"In city government, I was one of seven and nonpartisan. In the Legislature, I was one of 30 in the Senate, but overall there was 90 people," he said. "In Congress, I was one of 435. Your influence really decreases as you move up in the levels of government. The sense of getting a great deal done was very prevalent in the city government."

Mark Mitchell would argue with his father, saying that among his dad's biggest accomplishments was the passage of the G.I. Bill for the 21st century as U.S. representative.

"While in Congress, he was known for his votes for those in need," Mark said, including bills for Medicare prescription, tuition release and the G.I Bill. "It helps transcend everything he did in the community and represented us in Washington well."

Mitchell said medically the country was not prepared for the influx of returning veterans "simply because the war wasn't planned."

"The G.I. Bill is originally what made the Greatest Generation after World War II, and there's no reason why this bill can't do it again," he said. "We're getting volunteers from Iraq and Afghanistan. They're coming back with leadership skills, a sense of purpose, they're a changed person. And once they get a formal education, these are the kind of people we want. I feel very good about that."

His wife, Marianne, had no idea where Mitchell's political career would take them.

"Little did I know it would grow to what it is today," Marianne said, adding they still live in the same Tempe house they did when it all started. "It's been pretty busy at times, but we've enjoyed it."