Gov. Katie Hobbs’ lieutenant governor pick John Giles accumulated traffic tickets under the photo radar system he helped to establish, but benefitted from having all of his tickets dismissed.
FOIAzona first reported the ticket records and traffic camera footage from the violations.
While a council member on Mesa City Council, Giles helped to expand photo radar and red light cameras throughout the city and to increase enforcement measures for traffic violators. Giles stated when the cameras were established that he was disappointed there weren’t more cameras. Then, when Giles pushed to increase enforcement for traffic violations, he reasoned that motorists would ignore tickets if the city didn’t adequately go after them.
Yet, Giles managed to have five traffic violations from 2021 through February of this year dismissed: two citations for running a red light, and three citations for speeding.
The red light violations, which occurred in 2021 and 2023 while Giles was still the mayor of Mesa, incurred fines totaling nearly $600. Both charges were dismissed for failure to serve the summons within 90 days.
SCOOP 🚨
As mayor + councilman, John Giles was "pivotal" in covering Mesa in photo radar cameras. But privately? He has a habit of blowing through red lights.
And you'll never guess what @KatieHobbs's running mate did with all of those summons: https://t.co/EKFkHGuvjM #AZGov pic.twitter.com/VmtLZUHr0F
— Brian Anderson (@AZBrianAnderson) October 5, 2026
Giles emerged as an ideal bipartisan pick for Hobbs due to his longtime Republican Party affiliations, only switching his voter registration earlier this year to “independent.”
In keeping with Hobbs’ preference to not debate on the campaign trail, Giles has not hit the debate stage, either, despite the lieutenant governor position being a historic first for the state.
Rep. Andy Biggs’ running mate, Sine Kerr, addressed Arizona voters solo on Tuesday for the Arizona Clean Elections debate.
“They deserve to hear what your future plans are for our state,” said Kerr. “They don’t have a plan and with your help, Andy Biggs and I are committed to making sure we keep our state affordable, we put more money in your pocket, that we streamline government, and that we restore Arizona to her full potential.”
.@SineKerr is absolutely right in her closing statement: it’s a disgrace that Katie Hobbs and John Giles have refused to debate.
They have no plan and no vision for Arizonans.
A BIGGS/KERR administration will restore Arizona to its full potential! pic.twitter.com/SmblvjhAIF
— Andy Biggs (@andybiggs4az) October 6, 2026
While mayor, Giles endorsed Joe Biden for president in 2020, followed by Kamala Harris in 2024.
Giles was appointed in early August 2024 as a leader for the Republicans for Harris campaign, which the Harris campaign described as a “campaign within a campaign.”
Giles’ commitment to Harris led to his addressing the 2024 Democratic National Convention, where Giles spoke in praise of the Biden-Harris administration for their work, especially with stopping illegal immigration. Giles called Republicans “extremists” running “a cult.”
“I’m going to ribbon cuttings every single week all because Joe Biden and Kamala Harris reached across the aisle and they delivered for my conservative community and countless more across the country,” said Giles.
Shortly after the election, Turning Point USA (TPUSA) filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) against Arizona Republicans for Harris, also known as Arizona Republicans Who Believe in Treating Others With Respect.
TPUSA’s complaint focused on the size of the text on pro-Harris billboards disclosing who paid for them.
The FEC dismissed the complaint 4-0 last April, finding no basis for campaign disclosure violations.
Following Harris’ loss, Republicans for Harris rebranded as “Maverick” and appointed at its helm Reed Howard, Future Caucus chief strategy officer and the former leader of Young Republicans for Harris. Maverick has not been active on social media since April of this year.
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