February Election to Fill Senator-Elect's West Des Moines Council Seat Likely

West Des Moines officials say they will call a special election, likely in February, to fill the Ward 2 city council seat left vacant with Charles Schneider’s election Tuesday to the Senate District 22.

Schneider was re-elected to a second term on the council in November 2011. City Manager Greg Sparks said because three years remain, city council members are united in wanting to call an election quickly.

“With three years left, they prefer not to do an appointment,” Sparks said.

One candidate, John Mickelson, has already announced his interest in representing the ward on the West Des Moines City Council. In a news release, he said he is “committed to protecting taxpayers by holding the line on property taxes.”

“Encouraging our existing business to expand and attracting new job creators to West Des Moines will ensure we can maintain a balanced budget without putting any new burdens on homeowners,”  he said in the release.

“In addition, I’ll make sure we keep an eye on the nuts and bolts of city government, delivering quality city services as efficiently and effectively as possible,” according to the release. “Maintaining smooth streets, clean parks and good libraries are important factors to maintaining a top notch quality of life that will keep and attract new professionals and young families.”  

A West Des Moines native and graduate of Valley High School, Mickelson works as a banker in West Des Moines and teaches college night classes, according to the release. He returned to West Des Moines in 2010 after a 12-year absence for educational and career opportuniities.

He received undergraduate, MBA and law degrees from the University of Iowa, where he was also a letter winner for the Hawkeye football team.  

The home he grew up in is located in Ward 2. He and his wife Brooke have three sons, ages 4, 2 and 3 months, and are members of St. Francis of Assisi Parish.

He’s a member of the West Des Moines Public Art Commission and also serves on the alumni board for the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center and the State Historical Society.