DES MOINES, Iowa — Des Moines residents elected central Iowa native Connie Boesen as mayor back in November on Election Day, but her first official day wasn't until Tuesday.
However, Boesen said her schedule has remained busy for the past couple months.
"You know the campaign was over, but the real work started on getting to meet people, and getting to understand more needs and priorities, and a lot of people calling to set up appointments, and wanting to meet with me," she said. "So it was a pretty busy time."
The passing of the guard on Tuesday comes after two decades of mayoral service from Frank Cownie, who announced last year he wouldn't seek reelection, opening up the seat for the top official position in Iowa's capital city.
When Boesen was elected mayor, she had to vacate her at-large city council position, which remains unfilled. Before working in city politics, Boesen served on the Des Moines School Board for 14 years.
However, the Des Moines City Council will swear in Connie Boesen as the mayor at Monday's meeting.
In the meantime, Local 5 asked Boesen about her top priorities for the first couple weeks in office. She said economic development and advocating for keeping money in public schools.
"Creating and revitalizing our neighborhoods," Boesen said about strengthening underrepresented buildings and areas. "Within these neighborhoods are hubs for business, and really saying we are open for business, and getting businesses downtown again."
Boesen told Local 5 she wants to have meetings with Des Moines Public Schools superintendent Dr. Ian Roberts to "collaborate" on different policies, because she said "neighborhood schools are critical to successful neighborhoods."
She also wants to meet with staff members within the city to understand their wants and needs in Des Moines.
Over the past couple months since winning the mayoral election, Boesen said residents of suburban cities have noticed her out in the community.
A lot of the people who have spoke with her are women and young girls who look up to Boesen, because she's the first woman to serve as Des Moines mayor.
Boesen told Local 5 that one Girl Scout she met with even wrote a story about her, as she considers herself a big fan.
Boesen said there's no solution right now for how to fill her previous at-large seat, but the city council will discuss how to move forward in the next month or two at the council meetings, but not at the next one on Monday.