DES MOINES, Iowa — Three candidates have filed to run for the open Des Moines City Council at-large seat: Robert Pate, Mike Simonson and Rose Marie Smith.
Although only three candidates have officially filed, this isn’t the finalized list. Commissioner of Elections Jamie Fitzgerald says hopefuls have one week left to get on the ballot.
“We anticipate a lot more coming in here in the next week," he said.
In order to file, candidates have to sign an affidavit of candidacy and get at least 75 signatures from people eligible to vote in the city of Des Moines. That means anyone 18 or older who's a Des Moines resident and a U.S. citizen is eligible to vote.
Mayor Connie Boesen left this seat empty in the middle of her term when she was elected mayor.
"Historically, in Des Moines especially, it’s a four year term for mayor, for city council. So they’re all on a four year term," Fitzgerald said.
Boesen had two years left in her term when she vacated the seat. Whoever is elected as the at-large councilmember will finish out the last two years of the term.
“People have more interaction with us than any other elected body and that’s why it’s even more important for a local city election that people get out and vote," Boesen said.
When most people think about government, they might not think about the local level. However, city government serves an important function. It’s a responsibility the future at-large councilmember will share.
“It’s the roads. It’s picking up the garbage. It’s doing snow removal like today. It’s how we effectively make this city work for the citizens that live in it and the city council oversees that," Boesen said.
For instance, Boesen says city council has moved up a project by five years in order to tackle flooding issues because of locals’ input.
The special election will take place on Tuesday, March 19. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Fitzgerald says officials are currently finalizing voting locations. Those will be up on the Polk County website well before the election. To figure out which polling location you'll go to, visit the Secretary of State's website.
Absentee ballot requests for a mailed ballot are being accepted through March 4 at 5 p.m.
Early in-person voting in the Polk County Election Office ends on March 18 at 5 p.m.