Vice Mayor Doreen Garlid
Navajo Nation
Doreen Garlid exemplifies visionary leadership, cultural pride, and compassionate service. A groundbreaking figure, she made history in 2020 as the first Native American elected to the Tempe City Council and was re-elected in 2024. Her peers recognized her collaborative and innovative leadership by electing her Vice Mayor during her swearing-in ceremony on July 1, 2024.
Doreen’s resilience and commitment to cultural education are rooted in her Navajo heritage. She draws inspiration from her grand uncle, a World War II Navajo Code Talker, and her great-grandfather, a Navajo Medicine Man. For over 45 years, she has shared the richness of Navajo culture through free community presentations, earning her the City of Tempe MLK Diversity Award in 2020.
A strong advocate for military families, Doreen’s early life on military bases instilled her with discipline, adaptability, and gratitude for service. Her father’s 21-year Navy career, her brother’s role as a retired Army Lt. Colonel, and her nephew’s position as an Infantry Officer inspire her unwavering support for military communities.
Doreen’s effectiveness as a councilmember stems from her proactive and solution-oriented approach. She has spearheaded initiatives to improve human services, housing, and public safety while enhancing the quality of life in Tempe neighborhoods. Her key achievements include revitalizing the Park Ranger Program, raising the minimum tobacco purchasing age to 21, creating a Sober Living Task Force, and developing the city’s Mental Health Roadmap. Her vision for inclusivity and well-being earned Tempe the prestigious Age-Friendly Community designation by AARP.
Her compassion and global perspective shine through her three decades of community involvement and 15 international medical mission trips to underserved regions. Doreen balances her professional commitments with personal passions. She is a devoted grandmother, avid audiobook listener, outdoor enthusiast, and genealogy researcher. Alongside her husband, Scott—Executive Director of the Arizona Wildlife Federation—she raised four children with a love for culture and adventure in Costa Rica and Tempe.
