Meet the candidates running for Van Meter City Council in 2023
Three candidates are vying for two at-large seats on the Van Meter City Council, including Jesse Adams, incumbent Joel Akers and incumbent Travis Brott.
One candidate is vying for one city council seat to fill a vacancy, Quin Pelz.
Dallas County News asked each candidate to respond to questions on why they're running and the issues their district/community is facing. Their answers may be lightly edited for clarity or length.
The election is Nov. 7.
More: Here's what you need to know for Election Day in the Des Moines metro
Jesse Adams
GREW UP: Murray, Iowa
CURRENT HOME: Van Meter - 16 years
EDUCATION: Southwestern Community College/Iowa State
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Van Meter Park and Rec 2 years
Joel Akers
AGE: 47
GREW UP: Born and raised on a farm by Hampton
CURRENT HOME: Van Meter
EDUCATION: Iowa State University Bachelor of Science Degree with a major in Agricultural Studies and a minor in Agronomy
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: I was appointed to a vacant seat on city council last November. Prior to that I have been very active with the Van Meter Community Development (VMCDC) Corporation and Van Meter Community Visioning Committee. I served in different capacities on both committees including president of both, before stepping down when I was appointed to city council.
Travis Brott
AGE: 42
GREW UP: Van Meter
CURRENT HOME: Van Meter
EDUCATION: AA - Broadcasting
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Van Meter City Council - 1/1/20 - Present
Quin Pelz
AGE: 32
GREW UP: Van Meter
CURRENT HOME: Van Meter
EDUCATION: I have a bachelor's degree from Iowa State University and a Master's in Educational Leadership from Viterbo University.
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None
Why are you running?
Jesse Adams: Like to clean up the downtown of Van Meter and bring more commercial business. We have vacant building that should be used.
Joel Akers: Through my involvement in VMCDC I had the opportunity to work with city administration as well as city council. Through these interactions I gained a better understanding of what the process of city government is, and the number of issues facing our small town that need to be addressed in the coming years. I ultimately decided to run for city council as I feel that I can add value to our city. I feel I am a very open minded, and thoughtful individual who wants to understand all sides of a situation prior to making a decision. I am also able to put personal feelings aside to make the best decision for the city. I feel this is an important attribute in any candidate for a public office.
Travis Brott: The wanting to stay a “small town,” yet needing to survive with minimal commercial development, due to close proximity to the metro. Current council has taken many steps in revitalizing a few parts of the older section of town, planning for aging infrastructure improvements, etc., and I am seeking re-election to help see those project through to completion.
Quin Pelz: I am running for city council because I believe that the city of Van Meter is doing great things, and I want to continue to build on that tradition, and bring a new outlook to the council.
What is the biggest issue facing your community and how would you address it?
Jesse Adams: Water - this has been going on for years. Bill keeps going up with nothing being done. New developments and no water pressure.
Joel Akers: Managing our budget. Van Meter is a small community that is well over 100 years old. We have infrastructure that needs updating in the older part of our town and we have growth coming to our town from the metro, that is adding to the demands on that infrastructure. There is also a strong desire in our community to increase the connectivity around town by creating a trail system and improving some of our sidewalks. All of this combined with a budget that is constrained by our limited population our budget is limited to how much we can do at a time. We need to establish a short, intermediate, and long term financial plan to address the needs of our city.
Travis Brott: Replacing aging infrastructure in the “old” parts of town. Council is in the infancy stages of planning water main replacements, with street repairs, in multiple parts of town.
Quin Pelz: I do not have any pressing issues, but want to continue to work with everyone in the city to prioritize the needs of the city along with continuing to build on the strengths.
What is your vision for growth in the community?
Jesse Adams: Commercial business. Van Meter is growing and we we need businesses to help.
Joel Akers: I love living in a small town, it's the reason we moved here from West Des Moines in 2014. I would say most of the people that live here would say the same thing. I wish we could keep it this way, but the reality is the metro is moving west and growth is going to happen whether we want it to or not. My goal is to have balanced and controlled growth of our town, revitalize our downtown, develop a trail system that will one day connect to other communities, and to attract businesses that are needed and desired by our citizens.
Travis Brott: The main focus moving forward, in my opinion, is focusing on commercial growth, rather than additional residential growth.
Quin Pelz: Van Meter is a great place to live, and I think the secret is out on that, but the question remains how to attract businesses to Van Meter. How can we continue to support the great small businesses in our community while also bringing in more?
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Four candidates running for Van Meter City Council in 2023
