Candidate profile: Don DeWaard (incumbent)
Age: 67
Hometown: Pella
Current occupation: Retired CPA
College degrees: Bachelor’s from Central College
Community organization involvement: Current mayor of Pella, current representative on the PACE Alliance Board
Why are you running for election?
I am running because serving the community as mayor has truly been an honor. We have accomplished so much over the last four years but there is still work to be done.
What is the role of the mayor, and those who serve as mayor?
The position requires someone who sees the big picture for advancing the community forward. That requires vision for the long-term and knowing how to work with team members in making that vision a reality.
Discuss the issues behind your candidacy, and, if elected, how you would solve them if working with city council members/city administrators who may or may not have differing viewpoints.
As a rural community in Iowa, the challenge is to continue to grow in population and tax base, so that we can continue to provide the great public services that exist now. We have assets in Pella that aren’t available in many communities of our size. Our challenge is to invest wisely to leverage those advantages for the long-term future of the community.
Besides your own rationale for running for mayor, what are other issues that are pressing for Pella?
Having adequate workforce for the many jobs we have in Pella is the single biggest issue facing us. That requires us to continue to work with our employers, especially in housing and community amenities areas to assist with meeting their challenge of recruiting and retaining employees.