Scoop: Joe Gatto is running for Polk County supervisor
Why it matters: Gatto's potential move could alter the balance of power in both city and county governments, creating a seat on the council and bringing new leadership to the board after months of infighting.
Catch up quick: Gatto, a part-owner of Baratta's Italian Restaurant, has served on the council since a special election in 2014, filling a spot vacated after Brian Meyer won an Iowa House seat.
Hockensmith announced last week that he will not seek reelection after serving more than 20 years on the board, citing ongoing division among the board as a reason for his decision.
Zoom in: Gatto's time on the council has focused on revitalizing neglected neighborhoods, attracting small business investment and upgrading infrastructure, especially along commercial corridors like Southwest 9th Street in his district.
He's known for being direct, recently telling some of DSM's top managers that they are in the wrong positions if they recommend cutting fire department services.
He joined Hockensmith in 2023 in leading an effort to oust the longtime director of the Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization.
The intrigue: Hockensmith tells Axios he's not ready to endorse anyone for his seat and wasn't aware, as of Tuesday morning, of anyone else running for it.
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