DES MOINES, Iowa — Six candidates have filed to run for the open Des Moines City Council at-large seat as of the filing deadline at 5 p.m. Friday.
According to the Polk County Elections website, the candidates include Claudia Addy, Benjamin Clarke, Justyn Lewis, Robert Pate, Mike Simonson, and Rose Marie Smith.
One of those candidates will serve on the city council for two years, filling out the remainder of Mayor Connie Boesen's term. Boesen vacated the seat when she was elected mayor last November.
It’s a seat Boesen says brings a city-wide perspective to the table.
“Sometimes maybe what’s good for one ward isn’t necessarily for the total city," Boesen said. "So, if there’s competing issues or ideas, then maybe we can look at it from a global perspective of what is going to impact the total city, not just that one area."
The timing is important: whoever is elected will be jumping right into budget season.
“We also have the DART issue that’s facing us," Boesen said. "So between affordable housing, the homelessness, DART, how do we provide all the essential services - public safety, how do we redevelop the city."
When asked what the next council member should bring to the table, Boesen pointed to experience.
“Any time you have someone joining the council, you have to have someone who understands the city and cares about the city," Boesen said. "And I think having experience helps to have been serving on other boards and things like that."
When asked what advice Boesen would give to a future councilmember, she says they should work hard, make sure to schedule things out and, above all, care about the city.
Keep in mind the candidates listed Friday night might not be the final list. The deadline for candidates to withdraw their name is Monday.