Gaer Pledges to Continue Smart-Growth Strategy in Re-Election Bid

A news release from Mayor Steve Gaer’s re-election campaign:

Saying he will continue to encourage a smart-growth strategy and a city budget that focuses on important quality-of-life issues, West Des Moines Mayor Steve Gaer submitted his nomination petitions Monday to place his name on the ballot in the Nov. 5 municipal election.

“It's been an honor to work for our citizens and businesses and lead West Des Moines through its greatest period of growth and jobs creation ever," Gaer said. "I've been gratified by very broad and deep support for my candidacy and I've been looking forward to this day because I'd like to lead the city forward for another four years."

Gaer's fiscal priorities in a new term would be a continuation of his long-running commitment to balance budgets; maintain the city’s AAA bond rating and stringent controls on property taxes; increase the city’s commercial tax base; partner with other cities, school districts and counties to enhance services; and reduce or contain the cost of services without reducing quality.

He 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.

He noted that the latest citizen satisfaction 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.

"Even as our population was increasing dramatically and now includes parts of four counties -- Polk, Dallas, Warren and Madison -- 96 percent of residents are satisfied or very satisfied with the quality of life in West Des Moines. I'm very proud of that fact, but it's also something that I intend to work hard to maintain and, if possible, improve," Gaer said. "West Des Moines is one of only 93 cities in the entire country are top rated by both Moody's Investors Service and Standard & Poor's, which has saved us millions of dollars in interest payments even as we've made big investments in infrastructure."