By Shakira Ericksen

The Des Moines City Council started off the New Year by swearing in newly elected officials and selecting a Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem.
Councilmembers Melissa Musser, Matt Pina and Dave Kaplan were all re-elected to serve until December 31, 2017.

Councilmember Kaplan was unanimously elected to the position of Mayor and Councilmember Pina was unanimously elected to the position of Mayor Pro Tem. Both positions are a two-year term length.

“Thank you for the opportunity to serve another four years as your City Councilmember, and thank you to the Council for selecting me to serve as Mayor of Des Moines for another two years. It's an honor and a privilege,” said Mayor Kaplan.

Everyday there’s been work done on the Artemis Hotel and soon there will be a tower crane in Des Moines. There hasn’t been a tower crane in Des Moines since the construction of the Marina 40 years ago, said Mayor Kaplan.

“That really speaks a lot to what the future of our city holds and the promise it’s going to deliver on,” said Mayor Kaplan. “We’ve been making a great deal of progress over the last eight years and I’m hopeful we will start seeing results soon.”

Mayor Pro Tem Pina extended thanks to his wife, family, fellow councilmembers and members of the community.

“I again commit to everyone that I will continue to work with my colleagues here at the dais to move this city forward and to make it the city that isn’t the city that people say has so much potential but the city that is realizing its potential,” said Mayor Pro Tem Pina. “I will work with our Mayor and each one of you to make sure that voices are heard, that ideas are full explored and put on the table and that we collectively move forward together.”

Vic Pennington was the only new edition to the Council. Councilmember Pennington fills position number three which became vacant after Councilmember Carmen Scott announced her retirement earlier this year.

“It’s a pleasure to be here and it’s an honor to serve the citizens of Des Moines,” said Councilmember Pennington. “I’d like to really thank my family and my friends and my brothers and sisters at the Fire Department that are out here and who have supported me. I pledge to do the best job that I can do and I know we have a lot of work ahead of us and a lot of projects so let’s hit the ground running.”

Councilmember Pina was sworn in by his father former Councilmember Ed Pina. Councilmembers Musser, Kaplan and Pennington were sworn in by City Clerk Bonnie Wilkins. The next Des Moines City Council meeting will be January 9 at 7:00 p.m. at Des Moines City Hall.