By Dianna M. Náñez | The Republic | azcentral.com
Joking, boasting and even choking back tears, Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell, who served on the City Council during the depths of the recession, seemed a fitting spokesman for the transformation that Tempe is realizing amid an economic rebound.
Tempe is the little city that thinks, builds and achieves big ideas, Mitchell said during his second State of the City address.
Mitchell spoke at Tempe Mission Palms, a historic resort at the base of Tempe Butte, commonly known as “A” Mountain and in the heart of downtown, addressing a record audience of about 450, nearly doubling past mayoral State of the City addresses hosted annually by the Tempe Chamber of Commerce.
Mitchell joked about the hometown haunts where he grew up working or partying during his college days at Arizona State University that are now being redeveloped as hotels and high rises.
