On October 14, 2025, the League of Women Voters (LWV) of Seattle King County hosted two candidate forums at the Wesley retirement community in Des Moines.

Des Moines City Council Candidates fielded questions on economic growth, budget deficit, the void of city news media, tree canopy concerns, and more!

Des Moines City Council Candidate Forum was held at Wesley Des Moines on October 14, 2025, and sponsored by the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and the League of Women Voters of Seattle/King County (LWV). Kathy Jorgensen was the Moderator. 

There are seven seats on the city council; four of those positions are up for election. Candidates for seats 5 and 7 are uncontested. Both candidates running for positions 1 and 3 participated in the forum.

David Denino - Position 1 Harry Steinmetz - Position 1

Pierre Blosse - Position 3 Lloyd Elliott Lytle Jr - Position 3

Introduction Statements - Candidates asked to address the following:

  1. Why are you running for this position?
  2. Describe your Qualifications.
  3. What are your top three critical issues to address?

David Denino is a 20-year Des Moines resident who works in International Trade as a Customs Broker and Freight Forwarder. He stated he is not a politician but sees this election as the “best chance in years” for change in government. He observed that Des Moines is shaped by outside forces like the airport and expanding cities around it rather than by its own plans.

Critical Issues

  1. Fiscal Discipline - Increasing property tax should be a last resort
  2. Resident Trust - Need to listen to residents, respect other council members
  3. Strategic Re-development - Keep small-town feel and yet grow as a city

Harry Steinmetz is the current Deputy-Mayor of Des Moines and was elected four years ago. Later in the evening, he shared that he is an attorney.

Critical issues:

  1. Increase Number of Law Enforcement Officers - Des Moines has one of the lowest ratios of police to the population. The council tried to increase the property tax to address this problem but it was voted down.
  2. Economic Development - Des Moines has a “tired 1970s downtown,” and we need to grow while preserving the unique features of Des Moines.
  3. Transparency in Communication - Made strides recently by hiring a new City Manager who was unanimously elected by the council.

Pierre Blosse is a scientist who founded his own company, and he stressed that he is the father of two young children. 

  1. Prioritize Youth and Families- Add Parks, playgrounds & after-school programs
  2. Budget - Des Moines' budget is below projected revenue, and he wants to develop vacant lots 
  3. Protect the Environment

Elliot Lloyd Lytle Jr. shared that he grew up in the area and is a thirty-year resident of Des Moines. He has advocated for the Masonic Home to preserve its history and heritage.

  1. Community Driven - stressed listening to residents
  2. Advocating for Public Safety - We need more officers
  3. Better Transportation and Redevelopment of the city while maintaining the environment

Questions:

How would you improve the communication of news and activities, especially for those without internet access?

 All candidates agreed that greater communication is needed via news media and it is a challenge to keep public informed, especially those without internet access.

Denino talked about current news media, Waterland Blog and City website.

Steinmetz shared about existing forms of communication through a quarterly Des Moines magazine and discussed the possibility of a monthly magazine. 

Blosse gave a shout-out to the current city manager, who sends out a weekly email to 7,000 -8,000 residents with city news. He suggested posting printed flyers of activities at the Rotary Club kiosk down at the Marina. 

Lytle had ideas of involving local high school and college students to help with non-Internet options and possibly a newsletter.

How do you protect the tree canopy?

All candidates supported protecting the tree canopy goal of at least 40%. Steinmetz, Blosse, and Denino supported incentives for people to preserve and plant more trees, such as the Tree Replacement program in Burien. Lytle suggested a tree canopy of 50% and suggested people "build underground and cover roofs with trees” or  “build tree houses.”

How will you develop the city? (2 questions were on this topic)

All candidates agreed that the problem is that landlords do not want to sell in the Marine View Downtown area. They are waiting for other landlords to sell, because their property value will increase. The conversation centered ways to incentivize these landlords and what the limits of the council. 

Blosse proposed a carrot or stick incentive for landlords to sell vacant lots. He advocated for more walkability in Des Moines and bike paths.

Lytle suggested more street fairs and aesthetic touches like better lighting, more trees and flowers etc.

Denino said there are no easy answers, but it would likely require rezoning the area and cautioned against borrowing money without careful consideration. He said we need to redevelop the whole city, not just the Marine View Downtown area.

Steinmetz drew on his knowledge and experience of being an attorney and studying property law specifically. He said there are restrictions on giving tax breaks to some landlords but not all. He suggested Des Moines rezone and raise the heights of buildings. He proposed rezoning the area to mixed use

How will you advocate for Des Moines Residents against the Noise Pollution created by the airport through Port decisions?

All candidates acknowledged that the Port was powerful, and it would not be easy to take action.

Lytle said the city needs better leverage with the Port and should preserve the tree canopy under the take-off and landing areas

Denino said Des Moines needs to pool resources with surrounding cities.

Steinmetz said we are working with the surrounding cities.

Blosse said the Des Moines City Council should play the long game and endorse candidates that they want on the Port.

What will you do with the land for the former Masonic Home Property?

All had ideas for what could be done with the property. Steinmetz and Blosse were the strongest voices saying we can’t get ahead of ourselves. Demolition is under appeal, and the property is privately owned. 

Lytle wants to preserve the building and consider using it for a bed & breakfast, office space, or museum.

Blosse thinks a rezone of mixed residential retail would bring in more revenue if that becomes an option in the future.

Steinmatz was careful in his statement as an elected official so as not to be sued by the developer. 

Denino wanted to incentivize the developer to the benefit of Des Moines residents.

How will you tackle ivy on trees?

All basically agreed that it would be wise to get a community work party organized to help with the problem.

The final question was about the budget deficit. 

How will you cut programs or increase revenue to balance budget?

Steinmetz said the current council is working hard to balance the budget and is prioritizing public safety and family needs.

Denino said the long-term approach would be commercial development, and the short-term may require some additional tax increases.

Lytle said we need to change our mindset and not see it as a problem. Suggested slowing the pace of redevelopment.

Blosse said the city has a tax on warehouses that needs to be more aggressively enforced.

In closing, all of the candidates thanked their hosts and supporters.

Share this article
The link has been copied!