Michael Simonson

Michael Simonson is the incumbent At-Large Councilmember, having won a special election on March 19, 2024, to fill the seat vacated by the new mayor. His current term runs through December 2025. Before joining the city council, he served for 12 years on the Des Moines Plan and Zoning Commission and on the Parks and Recreation Board. Simonson is a retired architect and the founder of the firm Simonson + Associates Architects, which focused on affordable and senior housing. He received two degrees in architecture from Iowa State University. He has also served on the boards of numerous community organizations, including the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, the Des Moines Art Museum, One Iowa, and the Food Bank of Iowa.