Election 2019: Former Iowa legislator Jack Hatch to challenge Frank Cownie for Des Moines mayor
Former state legislator and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jack Hatch is running for Des Moines mayor.
Hatch will challenge Frank Cownie, the longest-serving mayor in the capital citys history.
Hatch, who lives in Sherman Hill and heads Hatch Development group, said he wants to improve infrastructure, explore how the city can be more involved in mental health care, and partner with neighborhoods.
While we understand the Des Moines has done well in terms of attracting downtown businesses and new people
but were forgetting about the neighborhoods, Hatch told the Register on Thursday.
He said a new zoning code that "fast tracks" development projects would take away input opportunity from neighborhoods on what's being built.
The council in that one vote a week and a half ago completely reversed the trend of neighborhood development for the last 35 years, he said. Being a political person, it indicates there is a conscious effort to move away from neighborhood empowerment.
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2019/09/19/jack-hatch-challenge-frank-cownie-des-moines-mayor-2019-city-races-election-november-race/2378120001/