Who is running for mayor, Des Moines City Council seats? A look at the 2023 election candidates

Editor's note: Kimberley Strope-Boggus announced Nov. 1 she suspended her campaign.

Four candidates seek retiring Mayor Frank Cownie's seat, while six want to represent Ward 1, left vacant by Indira Sheumaker.

Four seats on the Des Moines City Council were scheduled for election Nov. 7, including the mayor, an at-large member and representatives for Ward 2 in the city's northeast side and Ward 4 in the southeast side.

Following former council member Sheumaker's resignation in early September, a special election also will be held Nov. 7 to fill the Ward 1 seat on the city's northwest side.

It will be the first year new ward maps, approved late in 2021, go into effect.

More: Frank Cownie, after 20 years as Des Moines' mayor, will not seek reelection

Candidates' nomination papers were due Sept. 21.

Here's who is running:

Mayor

Connie Boesen

At-large council member Boesen is running for mayor to tackle the city's most "critical needs." In her campaign announcement, Boesen said if elected she would focus on livability issues, public safety, economic vitality, neighborhood redevelopment and the city's "most vulnerable" residents. Boesen was first elected to the City Council in 2017. Her at-large seat is not up for reelection this year.

Denver Foote

Foote, a cosmetologist and activist, is running for mayor to make the city "a place for everyone." Foote, who uses they/them pronouns, said they want to make cuts to the police department budget, decriminalize marijuana, disband its special enforcement team and eliminate unmarked police cars. They also want Des Moines to open a 24/7 warming and cooling center and a "non-judgemental" shelter for homeless people and create a more pedestrian-friendly community.

Josh Mandelbaum

City Council member Mandelbaum, who represents the city's downtown core, is throwing his hat in the ring for the city's top office. In his campaign announcement, Mandelbaum said he wants to continue implementing climate solutions, improve access to affordable housing and tackle public safety issues. He also said he wants to "invest in neighborhoods" and promote city growth. His seat is not up for reelection this year.

Chris W. Von Arx

Von Arx said he was called by God to run for the city's top office. If elected in November, Von Arx, 28, says he wants to tackle lowering property taxes, the homeless crisis and crime, as well as make city living more affordable. Hailing from Caledonia, Minnesota, Von Arx has lived in Des Moines for four years. He's a security guard and musician.

Ward 4 (southeast)

Jason Benell

Benell, a combat veteran and community activist, is running to represent the city's Ward 4. If elected, Benell said he wants to focus on economic justice, social justice and "a more responsive local government" — things he said current council member Joe Gatto has not addressed. Benell has lived on the south side for more than 10 years. He's treasurer and board member of Hispanic Educational Resources and a coach for the Des Moines Soccer Club.

Joe Gatto (incumbent)

Gatto is seeking his third term as the city's Ward 4 representative. Gatto said his accomplishments include securing funding for infrastructure, improving emergency response times and supporting small businesses. If reelected, he said he wants to strive for a "stronger, more inclusive" city, according to a news release announcing his candidacy. Gatto is from Des Moines and has been the part-owner of Baratta's since 1993.

Justin Torres

Torres, a Realtor and pre-law student, says he's running to fill the Ward 4 seat because the south side has been "neglected" for the past 20 years. If elected, Torres wants to build a "better quality of life" for south-side residents by bringing jobs, ensuring safe drinking water, and strengthening infrastructure and education. Torres, who has lived in Des Moines on and off for the past 20 years, now resides in the South Park neighborhood.

Ward 2 (northeast)

Chelsea Lepley

Lepley is running to represent Ward 2. If elected, Lepley says she wants to focus on issues such as public safety and housing stability and affordability. Lepley, who uses she/they pronouns, was born and raised in Des Moines and has served on various boards and commissions like the Parks & Recreation board and the Polk County Housing Trust Fund. She lives in the Capitol Park neighborhood.

Linda Westergaard (incumbent)

Westergaard is seeking her third term as the city's Ward 2 representative. In her reelection announcement, she said she will work to ensure the city budget "eliminates unnecessary spending" and advocate for "smart growth" to bring more commercial and residential development to Des Moines. Westergaard said she wants to see improvements to aging streets and storm sewers, additional flood protection along Fourmile Creek and new sidewalks on school and DART routes.

Ward 1 (northwest)

Rob Barron

Barron, a former Des Moines Public School Board chair, is running to represent Ward 1. If elected, Barron said he wants to provide resources like child care to families, address affordable housing issues and provide support to "aspiring homeowners." Barron, a Beaverdale resident, is the executive director of Iowa & Minnesota Campus Compact, a network of colleges that works to promote civic engagement. He also is founder of the Latino Political Network, a nonprofit focused on mentoring Latino candidates all across Iowa.

Chris Coleman

Former at-large City Council member Coleman is tossing his hat back in the ring to represent the city's northwest side. If elected, Coleman said he wants to focus on safety in neighborhoods to make the ward a "vibrant" place to live, take a "frugal" approach to the city budget and make civility a cornerstone of how the council does business. Coleman, who served on the council for 21 years after winning a 1998 special election, said he's looking forward to a possible return. A Beaverdale resident, Coleman is president of the Better Business Bureau of Iowa.

Kathy Hellstern

Hellstern, president of the River Bend Neighborhood Association and business owner, is running for Des Moines' Ward 1 seat. If elected, Hellstern wants to prioritize housing "solutions that work for everyone," development in underserved areas, create accessible jobs for residents of all ages and preserve the city's natural resources. Hellstern is the chairperson of the Near Northside Neighbors, an association of multiple Ward 1 neighborhood associations. She started and now runs River Bend’s monthly Heart of Des Moines Farmers Market.

Dennis McCullough

McCullough, a driver for Huber Hauling Inc. in Elkhart, is running for Ward 1 seat "to serve the people of Des Moines." If elected, he said he wants to address the food desert in the area, which started when Price Chopper on Merle Hay Road closed, and tackle crime. McCullough graduated from Grand View University in 2010 and now lives in the Merle Hay neighborhood. McCullough lost to Sean Bagniewski for House District 35 in 2022.

RJ Miller

Miller, a community activist and former Iowa House District 34 candidate, is running to represent Ward 1. If elected, Miller said he wants to make more money available for mental health resources, make marijuana possession a lower priority for police, and advocate for clean air and water. Miller lives in the Drake neighborhood and is the executive director of the Des Moines-based nonprofit, Greater Opportunities Inc.

Rose Marie Smith

Smith, who lives in the Cheatom Park area, said if elected, she wants Des Moines to come "together as a family" to address homelessness, which is a "big topic" that affects the whole community.

Kimberley Strope-Boggus

Editor's note: Kimberley Strope-Boggus announced Nov. 1 she suspended her campaign.

Strope-Boggus announced her candidacy for the vacant ward seat following the City Council's vote to hold a special election Nov. 7. If elected, Strope-Boggus said she'd like to focus on issues such as affordable housing, development and public safety. A Beaverdale resident, Strope-Boggus previously served as the campaign chair for longtime Ward 1 council member Bill Gray and is a member of the Beaverdale Neighborhood Association, where she volunteers with the Beaverdale Fall Festival and Des Moines Parks & Recreation.

At-large

A J. Drew

Drew, a programmer for Principal Financial Group, said he's running for the city's at-large seat because he's "frustrated" that "average" residents don't know about city decisions until after they're made. If elected, Drew says he wants to advocate for transparency in the city and among the City Council. He also wants to address public safety and blighted properties. Drew lives in the Capitol Heights neighborhood in Ward 2.

Carl Voss (incumbent)

Voss is seeking his second term as the city's at-large council representative. Voss said Des Moines has made "tremendous strides" in the last four years and he would like to further improve the city. If reelected, Voss wants to focus on road infrastructure, public safety and the environment, and address homelessness and affordable housing needs for residents. Voss, who has lived in Des Moines since 1971, served as an interim City Council member in 2013 and 2014 before he was elected to the at-large council seat in 2019, according to his campaign announcement.

Editor's note: Des Moines resident Benjamin Clark filed nomination paperwork for both mayor and Ward 2. Candidates cannot file for multiple offices. City of Des Moines officials say the legal department is evaluating how to move forward.

RJ Miller, who previously announced a bid for the at-large seat, and Bridget Botkin, who previously announced a bid for the Ward 2 seat, both withdrew their candidacies for those positions. Kimberley Strope-Boggus, who was on the ballot for the Ward 1 seat, has suspended her campaign.

Virginia Barreda is the Des Moines city government reporter for the Register. She can be reached at vbarreda@dmreg.com. Follow her on Twitter at @vbarreda2.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Who's running for Des Moines City Council in the 2023 election?