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Des Moines City Council approves special election date

Anyone looking to run for the open Ward 1 seat would need to collect 75 signatures by Thursday, Sept. 21.

DES MOINES, Iowa — Des Moines City Council voted unanimously Monday night to set a special election date to fill the vacancy left by Indira Sheumaker, who recently resigned.

Sheumaker wrote in a resignation letter dated Aug. 31 following months of absences at council meetings: "I resign from my position as councilperson Rep. Ward 1 effective immediately."

Members approved the following measure during their meeting Monday:

"A resolution finding a vacancy in the Office of Ward 1 Council Member and calling for a special election at the earliest practicable date of November 7, 2023 and directing the City Clerk to notify the Commissioner of Elections of the Council decision to call for a special election pursuant to Iowa Code and authorizing City staff to take all necessary actions to accomplish such direction." 

Anyone looking to run for the open Ward 1 seat would need to collect 75 signatures from Ward 1 constituents by Thursday, Sept. 21.

Kimberley Strope-Boggus announced she's running for the position shortly after the measure was approved. Meanwhile, former Ward 1 councilperson Bill Gray, who lost to Sheumaker in the 2021 election, told Local 5 there's just too much to get done in a short period of time for him to consider running in the special election. 

Other approved items on the agenda:

Watch Monday night's meeting

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