Former Democratic Congressman and longtime Tempe Mayor Harry Mitchell has died at the age of 86, leaving behind a legacy that resonates at both local and national level.
“We are heartbroken to share that our dad, Harry Mitchell, has passed away,” his son, former Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell, posted on social media. “While we are grieving, we are filled with immense gratitude for the immeasurable joy our Dad brought into this world. He taught us how to live fully, love fiercely, and serve faithfully.”
Harry Mitchell served as Tempe mayor for 16 years and, notably, continued to teach government classes at his alma mater, Tempe High, throughout most of his time in that office.
He also played a pivotal role in pushing for projects that would not be completed until after he left the mayor’s office and that continue to define the city to this day, including Tempe Town Lake and the development of Mill Avenue.
“While our hearts are heavy, we want to focus on celebrating Harry’s incomparable life of service to his family, his community and to the many lives he touched,” Mark Mitchell wrote. “He leaves behind an incredible legacy of love, laughter, and treasured memories that will stay with us forever. We thank you for keeping our family in your prayers during this time.”
After serving eight years in the Arizona Senate, Harry Mitchell left to take over as chairman of the Arizona Democratic Party in 2005.
A year later, he re-entered electoral politics, challenging longtime Republican Congressman J.D. Hayworth in Arizona’s 5th Congressional District, which covered Tempe, Scottsdale and Fountain Hills.
Mitchell faced an uphill battle against a well-known, well-funded opponent in a district where Republicans outnumbered Democrats three to two.
But Mitchell won, defeating Hayworth by 1%, helping Democrats retake control of the House.
He would go on to serve two terms, losing reelection to Republican David Schweikert in 2010.
Mitchell’s assignments during his tenure included the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, even though he was not a veteran himself. But Robbie Sherwood, a former aide, said Mitchell threw himself into the task, determined to find a way to make a positive difference for the nation’s veterans.
He would go on to be the House sponsor of a new GI Bill, called the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, which was signed into law by President George W. Bush. The legislation provided billions of dollars in postsecondary education support for veterans and their family members.
Mitchell also voted in favor of the Affordable Care Act, President Barack Obama’s signature healthcare reform legislation.
Sherwood said he took that vote even though he knew it would not win him favor back at home in his Republican-leaning swing district.
“All of us who worked for him knew it would cost him his seat, and us our jobs,” Sherwood wrote on social media. “His concern was for us. But he knew, we all knew, it was the right thing for our country, and that Harry would always do the right thing.”
In a 2017 interview with KJZZ, Mitchell, who cared for his late wife Marianne when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, said, “There are two things that I would like to be known for or remembered about. One, that I'm a good caregiver.”
Second, Mitchell said he wanted to be remembered as “a good politician, in a good sense.”
“Not that I brought things home or anything like that, but that I was honest. I listened. I cared,” he said.
Following the news of his passing, remembrances poured in from officials across Arizona.
“His life was marked by dedicated service and a genuine commitment to the people of Arizona and communities he served,” Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said in a statement. “Congressman Mitchell’s contributions and legacy will be remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing him, learning from, and working alongside him.”
Congressman Greg Stanton, who now represents Tempe, remembered Mitchell for his lasting impact on the city as well as that Affordable Care Act vote.
“That was Harry: a public servant who put people before politics, always,” Stanton wrote.
Attorney General Kris Mayes echoed those sentiments.
“Arizona lost a giant today. Harry Mitchell was a Tempe High civics teacher, a mayor, a state senator, and a congressman—and through all of it, one of the kindest and most decent people in Arizona politics. He taught generations of us what public service is supposed to look like,” she wrote.
Mark Mitchell said the family will post an update soon with information about arrangements.
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