West Des Moines' Steve Gaer Says 'No' to One Election and 'Yes' to Another

West Des Moines Mayor Steve Gaer announced this morning that he will seek re-election to the city's top leadership spot, eschewing a rare opportunity to campaign for the Republican nomination for a U.S. Senate seat.

Gaer, one of a dozen Iowans whose names were advanced as possible candidates, said he was flattered to be courted by the National Republican Senatorial Committee to run for a position that rarely turns over.

Gaer, a fourth-generation West Des Moines resident, cited family issues and his own desire to continue serving the city as reasons behind his decision not to seek statewide office. 

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“We’ve got a lot of momentum going, it’s fun and it’s non-partisan,” said Gaer, who was appointed mayor in 2007 and then elected to a four-year term in 2009.

Gaer, the chief operating officer and general counsel for the R&R Realty Group, said he’s changed jobs twice since the birth of a special-needs daughter

After first-tier candidates like Congressman Tom Latham, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, Congressman Steve King said they weren’t interested in seeking the nomination, Gaer thought he had a legitimate chance at the nomination and offered a moderate perspective that national GOP leaders say is necessary for the party to win elections.

“At the end of the day, it just wasn’t a good fit for my family and I,” Gaer said.

In today’s announcement, Gaer said he wants to focus on smart growth strategy and a city budget that focuses on important quality-of-life issues such as recreation, public safety, transportation and the environment.

“I’ve been honored to work for West Des Moines’ citizens and businesses as mayor and lead the city through its greatest period of growth and jobs creation in its history and provide consistent, reliable leadership when the economy was down," Gaer said in a news release. "I'd like to continue to lead West Des Moines forward for another four years to see that we continue to provide the quality services that our residents want, need and deserve."

Gaer led the city through a still lingering national recession relatively unscathed. West Des Moines just completed its third-best year ever in terms of economic growth, with $310 million in building permits issued in 2012.

2013 is off to a strong start, too, with Wells Fargo & Co. announcing a in the community of 61,570, whose daytime population nearly doubles to 120,000 because of jobs and retail opportunities.

Growth Gives City Room to Focus on Quality-of-Life Issues

That kind of development –  besides the growth of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, the arrival of Aviva USA and numerous other commercial and retail expansions have expanded the city’s tax base – has allowed the city to focus on the quality-of-life issues tThe most recent citizen survey conducted late last year scored West Des Moines above the national average in all 49 strategic areas measured and ranked the city number one in 21 of those categories.

"That survey shows that 96 percent of residents are satisfied or very satisfied with the quality of life in West Des Moines. That's something I'm very proud of, but also something that I want to work hard to maintain and even improve," Gaer said in the statement. "That satisfaction with city services is all the more remarkable because our population has increased dramatically and the city now includes parts of four counties -- Polk, Dallas, Warren and Madison."

Gaer said his fiscal priorities in a new term would be a continuation of his current commitment to balance budgets, maintain the city’s AAA bond rating and stringent controls on property taxes, increase the city’s commercial tax base and partner with other cities, school districts and counties to enhance services and lower costs.

"Only 93 cities in the entire country are top rated by both Moody's Investors Service and Standard & Poor's. West Des Moines is one of them and, as a result, we've been able to save millions of dollars in interest payments by refinancing a number of our general obligation bonds," he said. "At the same time, we've made crucial infrastructure investments to make continued development possible."

Gaer said his quality-of-life priorities will continue to be encouraging job growth; maintaining strong parks, recreation facilities and trails; maintaining the highest quality public safety; strengthening library services; maintaining quality streets and management of traffic congestion; ensuring that city officials make decisions in the long-term best interest of all residents; continuously evaluating the need for additional public facilities and continuing the Valley Junction rehabilitation/restoration.

"We're on the right track and I want to keep the city headed in that direction over the next four years," Gaer said. "That's why I'm seeking another term and that's why I'm asking for the community's support in this November's election."

Gaer served two terms on the city council, starting in 1996, before being elected mayor in a special election in 2007 to replace former Mayor Gene Meyer, who resigned to take a job with the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

A 1979 graduate of Valley High School, he earned a bachelor’s degree with high distinction from the University of Kentucky in 1983 and a juris doctorate with honors from Drake University Law School in 1986.

He was an attorney with the Ahlers & Cooney Law Firm from 1986 to 1994. From 1994 to 2004, he worked at Kirke-Van Orsdel/Marsh, Inc., where he was vice president/associate general counsel before being promoted to managing director.  Since 2004, Gaer has been with R&R Realty Group.

He and his wife, Sallym have raised the fifth-generation of Gaers who are proud of their West Des Moines roots. Their son Jacob was the third generation to graduate from Valley High School and is a 2009 graduate of the University of Iowa. Their daughter Margaret is a 2009 Valley High School graduate