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Harry Mitchell, Former Tempe Mayor, Dies at 86

His decades of civic leadership reshaped downtown Tempe, drawing widespread official tributes.

Overview

  • The Mitchell family announced on Facebook Wednesday that Harry Mitchell had died and asked people to focus on celebrating his life.
  • Mark Mitchell said his father recently suffered a fall that led to a brain bleed and required surgery, and the family has not released an official cause of death.
  • Mitchell served 16 years as Tempe mayor, later served in the Arizona Senate and two terms in the U.S. House, and taught civics at Tempe High School for decades.
  • State and local leaders praised Mitchell as a bipartisan public servant whose work helped create Tempe Town Lake and spur downtown revitalization.
  • The family said memorial arrangements will be announced soon and local outlets treat the report as a developing story with further details expected.