Cox Expected to be Named Winner of Tight Urbandale City Council Race Tuesday

It was a close race, but it looks like Creighton Cox will fill the open seat on the Urbandale City Council, narrowly edging out Tony Montgomery. The Polk County Election Board is expected to certify the election results Tuesday, and barring a recount, Cox will be the winner with 901 votes to Montgomery’s 898.

John Chiodo, of the Polk County Auditor's office, said that he doesn't expect any more eligible ballots to come and therefore expects Cox to be officially declared the winner. While six absentee ballots are still out, the ballots would have to have been postmarked by Nov. 7 to be eligible, he said.

“If they’re not postmarked on the seventh, they’re irrelevant,” Chiodo said. “That’s according to Iowa code.”

Reached by phone Monday afternoon Cox praised Montgomery and said that he was ready to get to work serving the people of Urbandale. Cox called the campaign a close race, a testament to both candidates appeal among Urbandale residents.

“Citizens felt that either one of us would do a good job, and I feel the same way,” Cox said. “If that’s the way it stands even after a recount I’m excited to serve.”

Montgomery wasn't immediately available for comment.

Even though it looks like Montgomery may have lost the election, Cox said the two have talked and Montgomery pledged to continue to stay involved in Urbandale, something that Cox said would be an asset to the community.

“I know Tony’s doing great things with the UCAN. I trust he’ll continue to do that, and if for some reason they have a recount and things change and he wins, I wish him a great job, and I’ll stay involved as well,” Cox said.

Cox said that one of his first priorities upon taking office would be to take a look at the city’s budget. He pledged to try to maintain the city’s tax rate, and not raise taxes or fees unless absolutely necessary. Fiscal responsibility is an important issue for Cox, who said that just as residents have had to carefully watch their budgets in the down economy, so should the city as well.   

“One of the first things that we’ll be doing is going over the budget for the year and the community plan and looking at the pennies and the dollars and the thousands of dollars are going to the right places,” Cox said.

While the race was up in the air last week Cox said he resisted calling into the election office for a daily update. He’s been out picking up yard signs, and trying to get home from work as early as possible to spend time with his daughter, who was born earlier this month.

“I’ve been patient, although very, very excited,” Cox said. “I’ve been kind of waiting for things to fall into place.”

Urbandale’s city manager, A.J. Johnson said that he’d be glad to welcome Cox aboard as the newest member of the Urbandale city council. Johnson said he plans to meet with Cox to give Cox an orientation which will help him better understand how the city’s government works.

“We don’t want to overwhelm him, but we want to get him up to speed quickly,” Johnson said.

Part of the orientation will include giving Cox a behind the scenes tour of Urbandale, and introducing him many of the city’s employees. The orientation, which will last at least half a day, is designed to help make Cox comfortable and effective in his new role.

“I’m looking forward to working with him,” Johnson said. 

Until he was contacted by Urbandale Patch Cox wasn’t sure if he’d won the election or not. After finding out the results Monday afternoon Cox said he was going to call his wife with the news and that he was looking forward to working with Mayor Bob Andeweg and the rest of the Urbandale City Council.

“I’ve got a big smile on my face and I’m excited,” Cox said.