Mayor of Scottsdale; Arizona

W.J. "Jim" Lane is a former Scottsdale, Arizona city councilman and the

current mayor of Scottsdale. Lane is a resident of north Scottsdale.

 Lane joined other new council members-elect in criticizing the outgoing council's decision to vote on a controversial new compensation plan for the city manager on their last meeting, calling provisions that restricted the city council's ability to remove the city manager a violation of the city charter. An opponent of the city's expenditures on the development of the Los Arcos Mall site, in July 2004 Lane opposed the proposed ASU Scottsdale Center for New Technology and Innovation (later known as SkySong) on the same site, which he considered a risky investment not worth the city's subsidy. Lane expressed support for the banning of all subsidies and tax incentives for private businesses by the city government, and supported state legislation making such practices illegal. After Lane and fellow conservative Bob Littlefield were left out of the budget subcommittee's membership, Lane accused Mayor Mary Manross of politicizing the subcommittee appointments. In late 2005, Lane voted against the installation of photo radar speed enforcement on the Loop 101 freeway. Lane was sharply critical of three fellow council members during the Scottsdale's city council 2006 election, after, in what became a minor scandal, secretly "having a shill, Karl J. Kulick, represent himself as an independent voter to challenge" a candidate, who was disqualified for coming just under the signature requirement. However, Lane and some other council members raised eyebrows by endorsing candidates for the first time, rather than remaining neutral as had previously been traditional for sitting city council members; the candidate Lane endorsed, Bob Littlefield, was one of the council members Lane had accused of deceptive campaign practices. In 2007, Lane voted against a proposed plan to extend protections against discriminatory hiring practices to gay and transgender employees; the measure ultimately failed. In December 2007 a similar measure was passed by the City Council, again with Lane's opposition.

Lane has been a Scottsdale resident since 1973, when he moved from New Jersey. Prior to entering politics, Lane was a businessman; he was described as a "technology consultant" by the Arizona Republic during his first political campaign. He attended Seton Hall Preparatory School in West Orange, New Jersey. Having graduated with a BS in accounting from Saint Joseph's University, Lane went on to work as a certified public accountant and financial statement auditor for KPMG for 20 years, between 1976 and 1996. Lane was elected president and chief operating officer of StatesWest Airlines on January 31, 1990. Shortly after, StatesWest Airlines discontinued all flying under its own name and entered into an agreement with USAir to operate as USAir Express. He is the owner of Scottsdale-based internet service provider, financial consulting, and telecommunications company Chatham Hill Group LLC. Lane was also an adjunct instructor of business and accounting at Scottsdale Community College. Outside of business, Lane also spent several years as an officer of the Board Of Management of the Scottsdale Paradise Valley YMCA.