URBANDALE, Iowa — The Urbandale City Council on Jan. 4 appointed Joe Cacciatore to fill a council vacancy after a daylong series of interviews with community applicants.

The council approved the appointment by roll call after a motion by Council Member Rosendahl, seconded by Council Member Kroll. Council Members Bode, Montgomery, Kroll and Rosendahl voted yes. Cacciatore was sworn into the seat immediately after the vote.

The interviews were conducted under a strict schedule that the council said would produce a ranked list of candidates for discussion. The council identified three finalists: Joe Cacciatore, Marla Mayberry and Baljeet Singh, and allowed each finalist brief closing remarks before the vote.

Why it matters: The person appointed will hold the seat through the upcoming November election; the winner of that election will take office immediately afterward. The council said it sought someone who could contribute to implementing Urbandale’s strategic plans while helping the city address near-term budget and service decisions.

Candidates and council discussion

The council heard from more than a dozen applicants during the morning and afternoon sessions. The three finalists discussed priorities that tracked with issues council members raised during deliberations: implementing the city’s strategic and human services plans, east–west unity in Urbandale, infrastructure and budgeting, and environmental and sustainability work.

Joe Cacciatore, a longtime Urbandale resident and attorney, told the council he would bring experience in law and small-business representation to the role and said he would be a pragmatic, collaborative member. “I would be committed to being well prepared. I'd be committed to transparency. I'd be committed to civility and being humble,” Cacciatore said during his remarks.

Marla Mayberry, who serves on the Urbandale Parks and Recreation Commission, emphasized community engagement and human services experience from volunteer work supporting refugees and families. “I bring a broad perspective of our community needs to the city council,” Mayberry said, citing her work with local nonprofits and community programs.

Baljeet Singh, a technology professional and longtime local volunteer, told the council he would press for sustainable urban forestry, technological modernization of city services, and actions to make the city more welcoming to diverse residents. “With over 20 years of direct involvement in community development, I bring a deep understanding of the needs and concerns of Urbandale residents,” Singh said.

Council members praised the finalists’ preparation and noted different strengths they would add to the bench. Several council members said they wanted someone who could help the council implement multiple overlapping plans — the strategic plan, comprehensive plan and human services plan — while also being prepared to engage with the city’s budget and with legislative decisions at the state level that could affect local authority.

Final action

Council Member Rosendahl moved to appoint Joe Cacciatore; Council Member Kroll seconded the motion. The motion passed on a roll call vote with Bode, Montgomery, Kroll and Rosendahl voting yes. After the vote, the council welcomed Cacciatore to the dais and said the appointee would serve until the seat is filled by the outcome of the November election.

What the council said going forward

During deliberations council members repeatedly cited a need to advance downtown revitalization, address affordable housing and continue implementation of sustainability and human services objectives laid out in recent plans. Council members also discussed the importance of maintaining continuity of services during leadership transitions and flagged the state legislative environment as a challenge for local budgeting and home-rule authority.

Closing note

The appointment fills a temporary vacancy; voters will decide the seat in November, at which point the winner will take office. Council members encouraged applicants who were not chosen to remain engaged with city commissions and boards and said there are other opportunities to contribute to city projects and committees.