Election results: Coleman, Westergaard, Gatto and Voss win city council seats
The city's voters completed their civic duty on Tuesday, Nov. 7, ultimately deciding who will occupy Des Moines' Ward 1, 2, 4 and at-large seats.
Polls have closed, and results are rolling in for Des Moines’ city council positions. Des Moines voters filled the city’s Ward 1, 2, 4 and at-large seats on Nov. 7.
Here is a full list of unofficial winners:
- Ward 1: Chris Coleman (42.28%)
- Ward 2: Linda Westergaard (55.46%)
- Ward 4: Joe Gatto (64.27%)
- At-large: Carl Voss (73.05%)
Unsure of which ward you're part of? Here's the breakdown of each ward's boundaries, last updated in May 2022.
Ward 1 Northwest
Perhaps the most highly-anticipated city council vacancy was the spot left open following Indira Sheumaker's resignation.
Chris Coleman won the spot with 42.28% of the vote. Coleman has more than 20 years of previous council experience and received an endorsement from former mayor Frank Cownie just days ahead of the election.
"Des Moines is the greatest city in the world and we're so lucky to be able to be one of the leaders of it," Coleman said at his election night party.
The special election — which resulted after Sheumaker's absences led constituents to call for her removal — will give Des Moines' northwest side representation once again.
Six candidates were in the race (winner in bold):
- Rob Barron
- Chris Coleman
- Dennis McCullough
- Kathy Hellstern
- RJ Miller
- Rose Marie Smith
Former candidate Kimberley Strope-Boggus made the Sept. 21 filing deadline but later dropped out of the race, endorsing Chris Coleman instead.
Rob Barron
Rob Barron, founder of nonpartisan organization Latino Political Network and Iowa & Minnesota Campus Compact executive director, is putting his bid in for Ward 1.
Experienced in the political sphere, Barron worked for U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin for 13 years, served on the Des Moines School Board from 2015-2017 and currently works with United Way of Central Iowa, Al Exito, Polk County Early Childhood Iowa and Mid-Iowa Health Foundation.
His campaign focuses on:
- Rebuilding the child care system
- Addressing mental health and gun violence issues
- Increasing affordable housing and ending homelessness
- Addressing Ward 1's food deserts
- Invest in DART
Chris Coleman
Chris Coleman is currently president of the Iowa chapter of the Better Business Bureau. From 1998 to 2020, Coleman served on the council, and claims he never missed a single meeting.
"I am uniquely equipped to step in and make an immediate impact," Coleman wrote in a Facebook post. "I have spent most of my career advocating for Des Moines, building relationships with city leaders, and creating programs that propel us for a successful future."
Coleman's platform emphasizes:
- Promoting neighborhood safety
- Advocating for strong police and fire services
- Investing in neighborhoods and parks
- Rebuilding city council relationships
Kathy Hellstern
President of the River Bend Neighborhood Association, Kathy Hellstern refers to herself as "not a politician", simply a Des Moines resident who "comes to the table with no career agenda".
Hellstern is also involved in the River Bend's monthly Heart of Des Moines Farmers Market and neighborhood activism, like the 2022 Block Challenge Grant that invested nearly $300,000 in the area.
"I stand out as a neighborhood leader. I'm already in the ward, having the conversations, doing the work. I've already been meeting with neighbors and talking about the things that are going on in the ward. They recognize me," Hellstern said in a September interview with Local 5.
- Allocating resources equitably
- Supporting neighborhood stabilization programs
- Creating housing solutions
- Developing businesses in the ward
- Creating accessible jobs
RJ Miller
RJ Miller is the executive director of Greater Opportunities, Inc., which provides education to underserved youth in Des Moines.
Though he's never held public office, Miller has campaigned for the Iowa House of Representatives before, notably losing against Ako Abdul-Samad in the 2022 general election.
"I'm running for city council because I want to make sure that the marginalized neighborhoods in our community, that they have a voice," Miller told Local 5 in September.
- Lower property taxes
- Increase safety
- Beautify low-income neighborhoods
- Road improvements
- Shift focus from marijuana policing
Rose Marie Smith
City council newcomer Rose Marie Smith is aiming to fill the vacancy with her campaign focused on fighting homelessness in Des Moines.
"Homelessness impacts children, mothers, fathers, grandparents, great grandparents and veterans," Smith shared on her Facebook account in October.
Dennis McCullough
A driver for Huber Hauling Inc. and a Grand View University grad, McCullough is not a total newcomer to a public office race. McCullough lost to Sean Bagniewski in the 2022 House District 35 race.
Ward 2 Northeast
Only two candidates faced off for the chance to represent Des Moines' northeast side in the Nov. 7 election (winner in bold):
- Linda Westergaard
- Chelsea Lepley
Linda Westergaard, the Ward 2 incumbent, won reelection with 55.46% of the vote.
"I've had eight years in office. We have gotten a tremendous amount of projects and accomplishments that have been made in Ward 2," Westergaard told Local 5.
While Westergaard boasted previous council experience, Lepley told Local 5 she has a finger on the pulse of the city despite the lack of hands-on council work.
Linda Westergaard
Incumbent Linda Westergaard has been serving on the Des Moines City Council since 2017, advancing multiple public improvement projects like the Riverview Park redevelopment, a new fire station and flood mitigation plans.
"I've had eight years in office. We have gotten a tremendous amount of projects and accomplishments that have been made in Ward 2," Westergaard told Local 5.
Westergaard, a longtime advocate for Des Moines' neighborhoods and professional realtor, has held roles on the Polk County Housing Trust Fund, Greater East Side Development Corporation and Des Moines Zoning Board of Adjustment over the past four decades.
Westergaard's campaign hones in on these issues:
- More affordable housing
- Improving parks and trails
- Improving public safety
- Flood mitigation strategies
Chelsea Lepley
First-time contender Chelsea Lepley is aiming to unseat Westergaard and bring change to Des Moines' city council.
"I’m a new voice, but I’m not a novice. I have a lot of local government experience, especially from the perspective that matters most: as a resident," Lepley's website reads.
She echoed that sentiment in a Nov. 1 interview with Local 5, saying in part: "I grew up in Des Moines. I've been involved in community organizing and politics for most of my life. and I have an idea that we could be more proactive in doing what folks want to see happen."
Here's what she's running for:
- Improve maintenance and repair in underserved neighborhoods
- Reimagine public transport and safety
- Advocate for quality rental and low-income housing
Ward 4 Southeast
Two newcomers faced incumbent councilperson Joe Gatto in the Ward 4 race to represent Des Moines' southeast side, ultimately giving way to his reelection (winner in bold below).
- Joe Gatto
- Jason Benell
- Justin Torres
Gatto won the vote with 64.27%, succeeding in his bid to continue representing the area of Des Moines he calls home.
"I'm running to give back to my community. You know, I've been here at the small business for 30-plus years. And they've always supported me. And so, you know, that's, that's really, really important," Gatto told Local 5.
Joe Gatto
Lifelong Des Moines resident and incumbent Ward 4 council member Joe Gatto is aiming to retain his position in the council.
Gatto has held a seat on the council since 2014 and cites his passion for his neighborhood as motivation for running for reelection once again.
"I'm running to give back to my community. You know, I've been here at the small business for 30-plus years. And they've always supported me. And so, you know, that's, that's really, really important," Gatto told Local 5.
"I know the process. I know the policies, I know how to get things done, I have those relationships. So I think that's why I'm best suited to to get reelected to this seat," he said.
Jason Benell
Combat veteran and political activist Jason Benell is looking to unseat Gatto and represent Des Moines' southwest side — the place he "chose to put down roots" nearly a decade ago.
Benell volunteers at Hispanic Educational Resources, ran a polling site in the 2020 presidential election through the Polk County Democrats and is the current president of Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers. As a Ward 4 resident himself, Benell told Local 5 he thinks Gatto hasn't prioritized Ward 4's population during his tenure.
"I don't think that we have good representation for Ward 4 on the city council right now. I really believe the city council and our local government should look like and live like the people that they actually represent," Benell said. "And that's something that I think I can bring."
- Affordable housing access
- Combating racial profiling
- Protecting resident privacy
- Oppose city service privatization
Justin Torres
Justin Torres, a pre-law student who works full-time as a realtor in Des Moines, wants to make a change for Des Moines' southside.
"Justin believes Ward 4 has been severely neglected for the past 20 years and is being left behind while the rest of the metro continues to grow and prosper. We deserve better and I plan to fight to improve the overall quality of life for ALL ward 4 residents including the homeless who call the southside home!" his campaign website reads.
- Attracting businesses to Ward 4
- Make it easier for homeowners to improve their land
- Generate additional revenue of future investments
- Avoid raising property taxes
At-large Citywide
Unlike council members who represent a specific ward within Des Moines, the at-large seat represents the entirety of the city. In the Nov. 7 election, two people were the ballot for this citywide position (winner in bold):
- Carl Voss
- AJ Drew
Carl Voss won reelection once again with 73.05% of the vote. This victory adds to Voss’ yearslong city council career, including the at-large seat since 2019 and interim member from 2013-2014.
"We are huge collaborators," Voss said alongside Chris Coleman on election night. "And that's what makes it work."
Carl Voss
Incumbent Carl Voss is one of two in the running to be Des Moines' at-large city council member.
Voss, an East Village resident and native Iowan who started his career in journalism, has campaigned on a variety of issues:
- Safety and health
- Neighborhood infrastructure
- Environmental improvement
- Increasing housing availability
Before joining the Des Moines City Council in 2019 as the at-large member, Voss served as an interim Des Moines City Council member from 2013-2014. He's also been involved with the City of Des Moines Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Policy Committee, the Des Moines Arts Festival Board, the Blank Park Zoo Foundation, Invest DSM, Neighborhood Investment Corporation and the Joppa Village Coalition Board.
AJ Drew
Though AJ Drew is a newcomer to city politics, he believes his experience as a Des Moines resident has shown him what needs to change in city government.
"I've had a few incidences with the city where they came and wanted to do some changes, and basically everything and all been decided, and there wasn't any flexibility and options for anything and got frustrating," Drew told Local 5.
- Transparency in council decisions
- Resident involvement
- Law enforcement reform, including disposing of qualified immunity