Meet the three candidates running for Ankeny City Council in the 2023 election
Three candidates are vying for three at-large seats on the Ankeny City Council, including Bobbi Bentz, Jeff Perry and Todd Shafer. All are incumbents.
The Des Moines Register asked each candidate to respond to questions on why they're running and the issues their community is facing. Their answers may be lightly edited for clarity or length.
The election is Nov. 7.
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Bobbi Bentz
AGE: 44
GREW UP: Ankeny
CURRENT HOME: Ankeny
EDUCATION: Bachelor of Arts in economics, master's in health administration, master's in public health, Ph.D. in community & behavioral health
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Ankeny City Council 2011 to present and mayor pro tempore 2022 to present. Currently serve on: Catch Des Moines Board of Directors, Metro Advisory Council, Ankeny Art Center Executive Board, Iowa Economic Development Authority Board of Directors (governor's appointment), 100 Women Who Care Ankeny founding member and steering committee member. Prior roles served include MPO Board of Directors, DART commissioner; Bravo Greater Des Moines Board of Directors; Iowa Congenital and Inherited Disorders Advisory Council Chair (governor's appointment).
Jeff Perry
AGE: 46
GREW UP: Battle Creek, Michigan
CURRENT HOME: Ankeny
EDUCATION: Bachelor of Arts, Western Michigan University
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: One four-year term on the Ankeny City Council
Todd Shafer
AGE: 57
GREW UP: Marion
CURRENT HOME: Ankeny since 2003
EDUCATION: Bachelor of Science in business and a Master of Business Administration
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: City Council, 2022-present; Ankeny School Board, 2009-2017
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Why are you running?
Bobbi Bentz: Since my family moved to Ankeny in 1980, I have seen the city grow, change and innovate. It's important to me to connect Ankeny's past with our future, maintain a hometown feel and continue to make Ankeny the best city in Iowa to grow a family or a business. When I joined the council, Ankeny had a debt and taxation problem and we needed to grow our commercial and industrial sectors. Over the past decade we've cut our property tax rate and debt load significantly through fiscal restraint, smart budgeting and revamping our strategic priorities. As a result, we've attracted more residents and expanded commercial activity while creating jobs and balancing the tax base.
Jeff Perry: I've enjoyed my first term on the Ankeny City Council. We have made a lot of investments in our infrastructure such as large projects like widening of West First Street, Northwest 36th Street and Northeast Delaware Avenue. I am particularly proud of the new Ankeny Senior and Community Center and the new High Trestle Trail bridge, but there is always a lot of work to be done to keep up with Ankeny’s growth and make Ankeny even better.
Todd Shafer: I am running to be part of the continued effort and dialog to govern Ankeny in a positive and fiscally responsible direction. I believe that elections are important to sustain the current direction. I want to utilize my experience in cost reduction management, business and board governance to be part of the discussions of what we spend money on now and how this will affect the city’s financial position five, 10 and 20 years from now.
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What is the biggest issue facing your community and how would you address it?
Bobbi Bentz: The biggest issue facing Ankeny is management of our infrastructure in light of natural aging and growth. Rapid growth 30 years ago means many of our key roads, water and sewer infrastructure need replacement, expansion and repair. At the same time, we are growing both inward and outward, requiring new infrastructure investments. These investments are growing in cost due to the size of projects, inflation and contractor staffing and supply chain issues. Prioritizing these investments during a potential economic softening while continuing to lower or maintain our tax levy will require the council to make some tough financial decisions in the next few years.
Jeff Perry: Growth is a great problem to have. Ankeny is obviously a community that people want to live in, but keeping up with that growth can be a challenge. We must be better at coordinating our road construction and improve Ankeny's traffic issues.
Todd Shafer: Ankeny’s biggest issue is and will continue to be keeping up with infrastructure. This includes not just roads but water and sewer. We need to allow for growth and update our current infrastructure. We have hundreds of miles of roads that are over 20 years old. The focus will be how to fiscally support this effort.
Des Moines' eastern suburbs continue to grow rapidly, which often includes annexing hundreds of acres of new land. How should the city balance the need for future development while also remaining sensitive to rural property owners who may not want to become a part of the city?
Bobbi Bentz: The last few years, Ankeny has been asked to approve several voluntary annexations. These requests are made by developers and landowners seeking to become part of the city to access infrastructure (sewer, water, roads, EMS services). We review these in accordance with our long-term Ankeny strategic plan as well as state law prior to approving the annexation.
Jeff Perry: Ankeny can balance the need for future development and rural sentiment by fostering an inclusive, respectful and balanced approach to growth. By listening to the concerns of rural property owners and explaining their rights, the city can achieve sustainable growth that benefits all its residents.
Todd Shafer: I am in support of annexation plans when they make sense for Ankeny citizens as a whole and when property owners proactively partner with the city.
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How much should your community pay into the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART) and what level of service would you like to see?
Bobbi Bentz: Ankeny taxpayers currently subsidize DART services more than our residents' usage of DART. The council and I've personally challenged DART to think outside the box to move away from large static-route based buses to direct and nimble services. This led to the local DART on Demand service. Additionally, I've asked for special event services such as busing to/from Ankeny and Wells Fargo or the State Fair, as well as looking at options for a local Ankeny route. With shifting commuting habits post-pandemic, DART will continue to need to adjust and innovate to provide a local transportation service that meets the unique needs of the entire metro.
Jeff Perry: Ankeny residents already support DART with a dedicated property tax assessment. DART should try to seek funding from alternative sources rather than more property taxes. DART has made a lot of improvement to its service by adding the DART on Demand service to Ankeny. In the future I'd like to see further expansion of the DART on Demand service.
Todd Shafer: I continue to learn more about how Ankeny heavily financially supports the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority program. I believe and agree there is a need for some form of mass transit, but I am concerned about the long range focus for DART and funding compared to ridership.
Chris Higgins covers the eastern suburbs for the Register. Reach him at chiggins@registermedia.com or 515-423-5146 and follow him on Twitter @chris_higgins_.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Three candidates are vying for Ankeny City Council in 2023 election
