The city of Des Moines will hold a special election to fill the vacant at-large seat on city council.Council members voted unanimously during Monday’s meeting to allow voters to choose who they want to represent them. The seat was previously held by Connie Boesen, who now serves as mayor of Des Moines. The council wasn’t supposed to make a final decision on whether to hold a special election on Monday. According to the meeting’s agenda, members were supposed to direct “staff to draft a resolution reflecting the council’s intent on filling the vacancy at its February 5, 2024 council meeting.”But councilmember Joe Gatto moved to vote on it earlier.”I was happy to move it and get it going as soon as possible,” Gatto said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do in the city of Des Moines and we need a full council to do that.”Get the latest headlines from KCCI» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google PlayCouncilmember Josh Mandelbaum voiced his concerns about the speed of taking such a vote but expressed that he still supported holding a special election.”I want to make sure the public has an opportunity to know and as much notice as possible,” Mandelbaum said during the meeting.Boesen was elected mayor on Nov. 7 and her seat has been vacant since Jan. 1. Gatto said there has been ample time for everyone to prepare.”I assume anyone that wants to run is prepared and ready to go,” Gatto said.The city clerk will now alert the county auditor of the council’s decision to hold a special election. The county auditor will then set the date for the election. It can held at the earliest practicable date, but it has to be at least 32 days from when they were notified of the decision.The city council said the earliest the election could be is March 5.
The city of Des Moines will hold a special election to fill the vacant at-large seat on city council.
Council members voted unanimously during Monday’s meeting to allow voters to choose who they want to represent them. The seat was previously held by Connie Boesen, who now serves as mayor of Des Moines.
The council wasn’t supposed to make a final decision on whether to hold a special election on Monday.
According to the meeting’s agenda, members were supposed to direct “staff to draft a resolution reflecting the council’s intent on filling the vacancy at its February 5, 2024 council meeting.”
But councilmember Joe Gatto moved to vote on it earlier.
“I was happy to move it and get it going as soon as possible,” Gatto said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do in the city of Des Moines and we need a full council to do that.”
Get the latest headlines from KCCI
» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play
Councilmember Josh Mandelbaum voiced his concerns about the speed of taking such a vote but expressed that he still supported holding a special election.
“I want to make sure the public has an opportunity to know and as much notice as possible,” Mandelbaum said during the meeting.
Boesen was elected mayor on Nov. 7 and her seat has been vacant since Jan. 1. Gatto said there has been ample time for everyone to prepare.
“I assume anyone that wants to run is prepared and ready to go,” Gatto said.
The city clerk will now alert the county auditor of the council’s decision to hold a special election. The county auditor will then set the date for the election. It can held at the earliest practicable date, but it has to be at least 32 days from when they were notified of the decision.
The city council said the earliest the election could be is March 5.
