Our very own Tempe Mayor Neil Giuliano, whom you might remember from such projects as Tempe Town Lake and the light rail project, has decided to write a book about his "political career."
What political career!?
Honestly, how many councilmen-to-mayor autobiographies are topping the best-seller lists? To date, none. To what do we owe the upcoming pleasure of a book about Giuliano's political life that will someday litter the shelves of our beloved Borders bookstore? His ego, that's what.
I do admire Giuliano and his plight against the conservative Valley masses, which I have been entangled in for 33 years. In addition, he has shown leadership in the way he has "stuck to his guns." At times, Giuliano seemed to be up his creek without a paddle but chose to beat off the lynching mobs with petitions instead of quietly dying.
Giuliano has a place in Tempe's history, but does it really qualify a book on his political career? Or is the book going to come out as another piece of literature seeking rank along gay and lesbian self-promoters?
Let's take a look at Giuliano's political career: In 1990, Giuliano served on the Tempe City Council for two years. He spent another two years as vice mayor until he ran for mayor in '94. This was a sign for changing times in Arizona, but he ran while still "in-the-closet."
His next great victory came in '96 when he won a second term as Tempe's mayor, beating out, well, no one. He ran in that election unopposed. He won again '98 and used the courts to extend the mayor's term to four years.
Giuliano saw defeat, however, when he considered a plan to prevent city of Tempe employees from donating to the Boy Scouts of America. This brought on a signature drive aimed at ousting the already "out" (read: openly gay) mayor. A public apology and a couple of years later, he is selling his tale to publishers.
There. Now you have it. Giuliano's political life all summed up for free, so there is no need to buy his book.
In fairness, Giuliano has played a key role in some major committees that affect the community of Tempe directly. This does add to the interest one could find in his book, but couldn't any citizen with a long list of affiliations write a book just as easily?
For instance, I am a student, a member of the National Conference of Editorial Writers, a student member of the American Civil Liberties Union, enrolled in the Barrett Honors College, have five more years of Tempe residency than Giuliano and have served seven years in the U.S. Air Force.
But there is something I am forgetting. Oh yes, maybe just as important: I too am gay. I had better get started on my book, because with a list like this, surely someone is bound to think that I should shower retailers with my "career," as Giuliano calls it.
Arizona has long held a reputation as a politically conservative state for which Giuliano deserves a standing ovation for his uphill battle to hold office within it. In addition to Giuliano, however, Arizona has had a number of trailblazers equally noteworthy: Ken Cheuvront, Ed Poelstra, Steve May, Jim Kolbe and Charles Coppinger.
But Giuliano's political history is really just a guise for some self-praise, as the numbers will probably reflect the day his book hits the stands.
Brian Searles is a justice studies junior. Reach him at brian.searles@asu.edu.
