Random Musings: Corey Woods announces that he is not seeking reelection to the Tempe City Council

Corey Woods, a member of the Tempe City Council since 2008, has announced that he will not be seeking re-election in 2016.

He is possibly the most well-liked and well-respected member of the council (and that's saying something with that group).

Part of his "secret", if you want to call it that, is that he likes and respects people, which makes it easy to like and respect him.

In 2010, a former member of the Tempe City Council, Len Copple, passed away.

As I was composing the post on Copple's death, I realized that I literally knew almost nothing about the man. He left the Council around the same time that I first became politically active, and my attention was focused on Harry Mitchell's first run for Congress.

Looking for some insight, and maybe a quote, I called Corey.

When I reached him, he was on his cell phone, out of his car along US60, trying to reach a garage to help him with a flat tire.

In other words, he was dealing with some pressing matters and could have easily (and very reasonably, IMHO) begged off.

However, when I told him why I was calling, he told me that he had a couple of calls to make (relating to his car trouble) and would get back to me.

And he did. In very short order.

He took time with me to offer insight into his friend at a time when he had more immediate concerns.

Woods had, and has, a reputation as one of the "nice" ones in Arizona politics.

That evening, he proved that that reputation is well deserved.

From his FB page, posted Thursday, September 10 at 11:01 a.m. -

I have had the honor and privilege of serving on the Tempe City Council since July of 2008. The last seven years have been filled with so many incredible experiences that I will cherish forever. With that being said, I wanted to formally announce that I will not be seeking re-election to the Tempe City Council in 2016. Tempe is an innovative, forward-thinking city that is well-positioned for an exceptionally bright future. It is a place that I am so proud to call my home.

I can’t say enough good things about all of the people that I have had the privilege to work with. I have been so fortunate to work alongside a group of Mayors and Councilmembers, both past and present who are so passionate about our city. They are a remarkable group of people whose only objective is always to take Tempe to even greater heights.

I want to also extend a huge thank you to the extraordinary staff we have at the City of Tempe. They are the unsung heroes that form the backbone of everything that we do. They are incredibly intelligent, hard-working individuals that spend countless hours working on behalf of our community.

Thank you to my family, friends and supporters for always being in my corner. Each and every one of you mean the absolute world to me. Most importantly, thank you from the bottom of my heart to the residents of Tempe for providing me with the opportunity to serve. Without all of you, none of this would have ever been possible.

In service,

Corey

I don't know what his plans are, near- or long-term, but I wish him the best with whatever they are, and (somewhat selfishly) hope that future public service is part of those plans.

He's "good people", the kind that there is never enough of in public service.