Cownie and Hatch will go head to head in Des Moines mayoral runoff election Dec. 3

Austin Cannon
The Des Moines Register

The barbs were already flying Wednesday between incumbent Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie and challenger Jack Hatch as they head to a runoff election Dec. 3.

And expect campaign money to fly, too: Both candidates said they're preparing for an intense round of fundraising to bankroll the new four-week campaign. 

Neither secured a majority of votes in Tuesday's election, triggering the runoff.

Cownie, who's running for an unprecedented fifth term, received 10,753 votes (43.5%) to Hatch's 10,579 votes (42.8%).

Two other candidates in the race, Chase Holm and Joe Grandanette, earned a combined 3,398 votes, pulling enough support from the front-runners to force the runoff. 

"We ran a very positive campaign,” Cownie said, speaking to the Register from his watch party at Star Bar on Tuesday night. “We intend to keep doing the same thing.”

Hatch, a former Democratic state senator and 2014 gubernatorial candidate, gave credit to his fellow challengers, noting that a majority of voters picked someone other than Cownie. 

“It was an extraordinary effort,” Hatch said. 

Roughly 24,700 people cast a ballot in Des Moines on Tuesday, according to Polk County Auditor Jamie Fitzgerald — about 20.9% of eligible voters. 

That's up from the 7,600 people who voted in the last Des Moines mayoral election four years ago, but down from a high of 30,500 voters in 2003, when Cownie defeated former Councilwoman Christine Hensley to win his first term as mayor. 

Tuesday also was the first time city and school board elections were held on the same day. 

Cownie, Hatch continue to trade criticisms

During the six-week campaign, Hatch, 69, frequently criticized Cownie, claiming the mayor did not try to stop the state's effort to dismantle Des Moines Water Works. Hatch also pledged that if elected he would collaborate more with other governmental bodies such as Des Moines Public Schools.

“I was very critical of the mayor’s leadership, but I think you do that by challenging the decisions he’s made and the consequences of not making good decisions," Hatch said. "… We will probably continue to do that.”

The two also clashed over property taxes and whether the city can freeze them for residents 65 and older

The two continued to spar over the issue during separate interviews with the Des Moines Register on Wednesday afternoon. Cownie accused his opponent of using "scare tactics and deception," pointing to a text message sent to potential voters this week that claimed Hatch "will freeze property taxes for seniors on fixed income."

"How do you tell people you're going to lower the property tax rates of people over 65 when we have no authority to do that under Iowa law?" Cownie said.

► More: Election results from Polk, Dallas counties

Hatch on Wednesday said Cownie was attempting to distract from Hatch's criticism of the mayor's approach toward Des Moines Water Works. Hatch acknowledged that his plan to freeze property taxes for senior citizens would require state approval, but he believes legislators will be open to working out a way to make it happen.

"I don't know any legislator that wouldn't consider a proposal to lower property taxes," he said. 

Hatch said Tuesday that a poll he conducted in August showed him 32 percentage points behind Cownie. He said he knew getting above 50% of the vote would be a challenge in the four-candidate field, but he expected he could force a runoff.  

"We thought if we did it right and all the statistics were right and we spent our money the right way and we framed the issues the right way, then this is the consequence," he said. 

Cownie's campaign painted an optimistic picture of Des Moines during the lead-up to Tuesday's vote. The mayor, 71, heralded the passage of a local-option sales tax, which led to the city cutting its property tax levy and investing millions more in road replacements and repairs.

He mentioned the hundreds of meetings he goes to each year to help him make decisions, saying he doesn't consider "ideas that came out of nowhere" and lack funding.

"I am so proud of doing that, and I’m not going to stop doing that,” he said, noting that he doesn't see his opponents at those gatherings.

Cownie won the fundraising race

Cownie dwarfed Hatch in fundraising, according to documents filed Thursday with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board as the race was drawing to a close The mayor raised $137,175 in contributions. Hatch took in $32,598 in contributions as well as $75,000 from personal loans that he made to the campaign.

Both candidates spent thousands on get-out-the-vote efforts and advertising. As of Thursday's report, Cownie had $20,386 in cash on-hand, while Hatch had $8,843.

Hatch said he hopes not to have to spend any more of his own money.

He also said he plans to release more details on his plans for a regional water planning authority and a potential regional water agency. 

"We are laying the groundwork for the same kind of campaign, just with more intensity," Hatch said.

Cownie said he plans to continue what he's been doing so far, knocking on doors and making phone calls along with team members.

"We're feeling good about the support that we have," he said.

Cownie received endorsements from the entire Des Moines City Council and several local unions. Hatch earned the endorsement of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, a left-leaning organization that advocates for improved water quality and a citywide ban on racial profiling.

Des Moines’ mayor serves a four-year term and earns a yearly salary of $57,760, plus benefits.

Results are unofficial until they are certified by the county boards of supervisors.

Austin Cannon covers the city of Des Moines for the Register. Reach him at awcannon@registermedia.com or 515-284-8398. Your subscription makes work like this possible. Subscribe today at DesMoinesRegister.com/Deal.