In these troubled economic times local cities are trying to find development wherever they can.

Des Moines Mayor Bob Sheckler just returned from an economic conference in China.

But Des Moines Economic Development Manager Marion Yoshino is looking toward a much closer location in an attempt to bring a few more jobs and some popular fast food to her city.

Yoshino has announced that state Rep. Dave Upthegrove (D-Des Moines) has written a letter to Jim Spady, owner of Dick's Drive-In Restaurants, urging him to locate a Dick's in Des Moines.

The 56-year-old Dick's, with five locations around Seattle, has decided to open its first new restaurant in 36 years.

They are asking customers where they want the new drive-in to be placed.

More than 92,000 customers have responded to an online survey. That doesn't count tens of thousands of extra votes that the company said were entered into the poll by computer hackers. Dick's staffers report those votes have been removed.

In addition, another 2,400 have tuned into a YouTube video that kicked off a video contest asking people to describe why their city should be awarded the next Dick's.

Campaigning via snail mail, Upthegrove wrote, "Located in South King County, midway between Seattle and Tacoma, Des Moines is a beautiful waterfront city with an historic downtown and diverse, vibrant community.

"Home to Highline Community College (the second largest community college in the state,) several retirement communities, and located right next to Sea-Tac International Airport, Des Moines offers a beautiful setting and solid customer base.

"We are the home of a proposed light rail station and easily accessible by car from West Seattle, Burien, Kent and Federal Way."

In the latest published survey results, South (West Seattle, South Seattle, Renton, Burien, SeaTac, Tukwila) has garnered 28 percent (26,778 votes.)

That is behind North with 47 percent, but ahead of East with 24 percent.