SIMONSON SWORN IN AS AT-LARGE COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE

Press Release

DES MOINES, IOWA - Tuesday, April 2, 2024 - The Des Moines City Council has every seat filled. At-Large Council Member Mike Simonson took the oath of office at the Monday, April 1 Council meeting to complete the City's seven-member governing body. Council Member Simonson won a special election held on March 19 to fill the seat vacated when Connie Boesen was sworn in as mayor in January. He will serve the remainder of Boesen's term which runs through December 2025, and joins the City Council's other At-Large Council Member Carl Voss.

"In two months of talking with residents throughout our city, I wasn't surprised to meet so many capable, passionate people who love Des Moines," Council Member Simonson said. "I look forward to hearing from fellow council members and mayor about their desires for their wards, and for the city as a whole. I look forward to devoting my time toward addressing the issues we face, and celebrating what we have and who we are," he added.

CouncilMember Simonson has served on the City of Des Moines Housing and Appeals Board, Parks and Recreation Board, and was a 12-year member of the Plan & Zoning Commission. He is a current member of the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden and the Food Bank of Iowa boards, and has previously served on the boards of the Des Moines Art Center, Hoyt Sherman Place, Iowa Stage, Salisbury House & Garden, Brenton Arboretum, Trees Forever, and One Iowa. His local Initiatives include MacRae Park Overlook, Grand Avenue Tree Canopy, Woodland Cemetery Restoration, Joppa - Tiny House Village, Robert D. Ray Asian Garden, Hoyt Sherman Expansion, Ronald McDonald House, Will Keeps - Starts Right Here, and Ruth Harbor.

Councilman Simonson received two degrees in architecture from Iowa State University, and opened his practice, Simonson + Associates Architects, LLC, in 1989. The firm's primary focus includes affordable housing, senior housing, multi-family housing, as well as mixed-use, retail, and office space.