John Hieftje is currently the Mayor of Ann Arbor, and has been for years. He as been a very active community leader, serving on the boards of numerous area organizations, including the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, Michigan Theater, Huron River Watershed Council, and Lake Superior Conservancy and Watershed Council. He is the Co-Chair of the Washtenaw Metro Alliance, and has served as Chair of Recycle Ann Arbor and of Urban Core Mayors of Michigan. In addition, he is a member of the Sierra Club, the Ecology Center Center of Ann Arbor, and the National Wildlife Federation (Great Lakes Office). Through these activities, he has demonstrated a strong commitment to improving the local environment, and has won several awards, including Local Elected Official of the Year Award from the Michigan Recreation and Parks Association; the Conservation Leadership Award from the Greater Detroit Audubon Society; the Conservation Award from the Huron Valley Group of Sierra Club; and the Preservationist of the Year Award from Washtenaw Land Trust.

Hieftje is personable, smiling and friendly in almost every face to face meeting or city council appearance. He is a caucasian male, over 6 feet tall, and an avid bicyclist and athlete.