Home Care In Clive, IA

John Edwards will serve another term as Clive’s mayor after defeating City Council member Michael McCoy on Tuesday, Nov. 4, according to unofficial results.

Edwards received 59% of the vote, while McCoy finished with 41%, the unofficial results show.

Speaking to the Des Moines Register, Edwards said he found it "flattering" that a majority of voters had yet again chosen to back him.

"I’m really excited about the next four years and advancing plans we already have," he said. "Our citizens think we’re doing a good job, and that’s thanks to a great staff. Council provides direction through strategic planning, and staff implements that, and they do one heck of a job. It makes the mayor’s job easy."

McCoy, meanwhile, congratulated Edwards on his win in a statement.

"While tonight’s results weren’t what we hoped for, I want to congratulate John Edwards on his continued service to the City of Clive," he said. "I’d also like to thank the residents and businesses of Clive—and most importantly, my family—for their ongoing support throughout my campaign and during my 12 years of service to this great city."

McCoy did not run for reelection to his council seat in order to run for mayor. He added he remains committed to "continuing to be part of Clive’s progress" and supporting the city’s ongoing efforts, including the revitalization and redevelopment of Linnan Park.

Who is John Edwards?

Edwards, 72, is a professor and associate dean at Drake University Law School. He has served as Clive mayor since 2022 and spent more than two decades on the Clive City Council from 1995 to 2021, including 20 years as mayor pro tempore. He also has represented Clive on the Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Metro Advisory Council, Central Iowa Water Works and the Des Moines Metropolitan Transit Authority board.

“Another term as mayor will enable me to continue our successes and guide the city forward as a collaborative regional leader,” Edwards said in a response to a Des Moines Register questionnaire. “Finding sufficient resources to address street and infrastructure needs is a high priority,” he said, noting that costs are rising while revenue growth is capped.

Nick El Hajj is a reporter at the Register. He can be reached at. Follow him on X at @nick_el_hajj.

DES MOINES, Iowa —

Bye-bye Beggars' Night.

The decades-long tradition isn't completely dead, but most central Iowa cities have moved away from trick-or-treating on Oct. 30 — known as Beggars' Night.

Some, like Bondurant and Dallas Center, decided in recent years to host citywide trick-or-treating on the last Saturday of October.

Others, like Des Moines, Altoona, Ankeny and Waukee, moved trick-or-treating back to Halloween night (Oct. 31).

Severe weather pushed central Iowa Beggars' Nights from last fall to Halloween. The Associated Press reported that it was the first time since 1938 that children in Des Moines went trick-or-treating on Halloween.

The city began its unusual custom at the suggestion of a former city parks director as a way to reduce vandalism and promote more wholesome fun for kids. Initially, children were encouraged to sing a song, recite poetry and offer some other kind of entertainment, but over time, a joke became the most common offering. And it wasn't long before most other central Iowa towns adopted the Beggars' Night tradition.

Now, the majority of central Iowa cities have moved trick-or-treating back to Halloween night.

Here's a list of trick-or-treating dates and times across central Iowa this year. (Times are 6-8 p.m. unless noted.)

Don't see your town on this list? Email us the information at [email protected].

Trick-or-treating on Saturday, Oct. 25

Trick-or-treating on Thursday, Oct. 30 — Beggars' Night

Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark explains Iowa tradition of Beggars' Night

Trick-or-treating on Friday, Oct. 31 — Halloween

Adel

Alleman

Ames, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Ankeny

Boone

Carlisle

Dawson, 5-7 p.m.

De Soto

Grimes

Huxley

Indianola

Johnston

Minburn, 5:30-7 p.m.

Mitchellville

Nevada

Norwalk

Perry

Pleasant Hill

Polk City

Winterset, 5-7 p.m.

WATCH: Filling someone else's bucket: Halloween act of kindness inspired by memory of Waukee boy's late older brother

Three candidates will run for two spots on the Clive City Council. Mike Alowitz and Sadie Gasparotto will run against incumbent Eric Klein for the at-large seats.

Separately, one candidate, incumbent Breanne Hocker, will run unopposed for a two-year term to fill a vacancy on the Clive City Council.

The Des Moines Register asked each candidate to respond to questions on why they're running and the issues facing their city. Their answers may be lightly edited for clarity or length.

The election is Nov. 4.

Breanne Hocker (incumbent, running for vacancy)

Current occupation: Compliance program manager

Education: Master's of Business Administration with honors from the University of Iowa.

Where did you grow up? Decorah

Political experience: Clive Board of Adjustment

Age: 32

Mike Alowitz

Current occupation: Environmental engineer

Education: Bachelor's in environmental science — SUNY Plattsburgh; master's in environmental engineering — University of Iowa; MBA — University of Iowa.

Where did you grow up? Albany, New York

Political experience: 10 plus years on city of Clive boards or commissions, current chair of the Planning and Zoning Commission, four plus years on board of Clive Historical Society

Age: 49

Sadie Gasparotto

Current occupation: Nonprofit consultant, LMSW

Education: Master’s degrees in urban and regional planning and social work, University of Iowa.

Where did you grow up? Dallas Center

Political experience: I have 20 years of experience in urban planning, housing, social work, and nonprofit leadership that drives my continued commitment to public service. I’ve worked across the Des Moines metro as a city planner, nonprofit housing advocate, and strategic grant consultant. I served on the Waukee Community Schools Foundation Board and am active with the Parent Teacher Organization at my kids’ school.

Age: 45

Eric Klein (incumbent)

Current occupation: Corporate partnerships, Iowa Cubs; Clive City Councilmember

Education: Bachelor's from University of Iowa, officers commission at Iowa Military Academy

Where did you grow up? Windsor Heights

Political experience: 16 years on Clive City Council; Clive Parks/Recreation Board for three years; Clive Festival president four years and 12 years on board; St. Theresa School Board for three years; Greenbelt Master Plan committee, District 1; 86th Street Master Plan committee; Clive Fire Department Master Plan committee; Clive Rental Housing committee; Clive tagline and logo commitee; asstistant Scoutmaster for 16 years; Iowa Army National Guard for 12 years.

Age: 60

Why are you running?

Breanne Hocker: Public service has been a long-time value of mine. After five years on the Clive Board of Adjustment, I took the opportunity to further my service to the city because I enjoyed hearing from the people of Clive. Clive also has a large (and growing) population of young people and I want to ensure that group is represented, in addition to including another woman in the council. I had a science teacher who always said, “diversity brings stability.” By adding different perspectives than what has been represented in the past, it sets us up for a future of more viewpoints and long-term success.

Mike Alowitz: I'm running for City Council because there is an open seat and I think I'm well positioned from my experience to contribute to the future of our city. I think Clive is well-run and I would not be running if both incumbents were running for the position.

Sadie Gasparotto: I’m running for Clive City Council because local elections matter and every voice counts. Local decisions shape our neighborhoods, parks, housing, and how we invest our tax dollars. Too often, Clive residents have faced limited choices on the ballot. My campaign is about increasing community engagement and inspiring more neighbors to take part in shaping Clive’s future. Clive is a community we’re proud to call home. High resident satisfaction reflects the dedication of city staff and strong leadership. I’m ready to build on that foundation, and guide our city forward with experience, responsibility, and heart.

Eric Klein: I am running to continue keeping Clive a great place to live. Balancing taxes low and high service to our residents is my focus. Continuing to invest in road improvements, upgrading our parks and the Greenbelt Trail and keeping Clive in good financial position are priorities. I will continue pushing for process improvements from our departments as well as working with neighboring communities to work together on regional solutions. This helps to reduce redundancy and inefficient services while providing our residents the best deal in the metro for their local government. Listening to Clive citizens and prioritizing transparency in government allowing input from everyone is important.

What is the most important issue facing your city and what would you do to address it?

Breanne Hocker: Clive’s borders are set and further land expansion is not an option. However, this presents opportunities to redevelop areas to better meet the needs of residents, particularly in older parts of Clive. As someone who lives on the older east side of Clive, there are a number of projects happening in the area and I look forward to engaging with my neighbors to determine what is further needed and wanted. I fully support these projects, along with other ideas to transform existing spaces. These redevelopment projects allow for creativity and ingenuity from residents and businesses that make our landlocked status less concerning.

Mike Alowitz: The most important issue facing Clive is the pending completion of build-out and correlated slowing growth of the tax base. When growth slows, it is harder to maintain the high level of service our residents are accustomed to. Ways to address this include approaches like the mid-cycle census to update our population and qualify for more federal funding. I think we also need to seek balance in our zoning regulations to honor our high standards and promote redevelopment in the future.

Sadie Gasparotto: The biggest issue for Clive is preparing for life beyond growth. As the remaining undeveloped land in our city fills in, we can no longer rely on subdivision projects in those areas to expand our tax base. The challenge is keeping Clive financially resilient while maintaining the quality of services residents expect. I will champion a long-term financial plan with strategic review points, stretch every tax dollar through external funding and partnerships, and use data-driven budgeting to protect services without overburdening taxpayers. My background in planning, housing, and nonprofit finance has taught me how to balance growth with resilience — and I’ll bring that expertise to City Council.

Eric Klein: Clive is landlocked and therefore unable to grow. Putting long-term strategic plans in place to redevelop Clive with this in mind will keep Clive in a good position moving forward. Out of the box thinking and being flexible with policy will allow us to pivot on opportunities to allow for positive growth in our residential and business communities. Managing our stormwater runoff with innovate programs like soil quality restoration, flood prone property buyouts, and rain gardens are part of the solution to reduce flooding and keeping Clive safe.

How would you balance a desire to lower property taxes with a need to provide resources to your city?

Breanne Hocker: Clive has maintained a strong financial position and not raised taxes in many years, something I hope we can continue despite state/federal changes and economic uncertainty. After careful analysis, right-sizing taxes to provide high-quality services is essential. Services provided must meet the needs of residents and not just be good ideas on paper that waste taxpayer dollars. One of my top priorities is continuing existing and pursuing additional collaborations with neighboring communities and school districts, plus private entities as appropriate. This provides maximum benefit to all involved, creates savings without additional expenses, and makes each individual entity stronger.

Mike Alowitz: Clive has a low tax levy and it is unlikely to be lowered in the future as we complete buildout of available land. I've heard from citizens who appreciate mosquito spraying, snow plowing, road improvements, and parks including the greenbelt. When we're growing, the balance is more simple than in the future. We need to make fiscally sound decisions and look for opportunities to save costs. In our future we'll need to be innovative with sources of revenue and cost savings to maintain the services our citizens expect. For example, Clive partnerships with neighboring cities saves costs for us and others.

Sadie Gasparotto: Lowering property taxes and providing strong services don’t have to be competing goals. The key is smart planning and making sure services reflect the needs and priorities of Clive residents. I will champion data-driven budgeting, focus resources where they have the greatest impact, and pursue outside funding — grants, partnerships, and regional collaborations — to bring in new dollars. I will also create more ways for residents to share what’s most important to them, so our spending reflects community priorities while keeping taxes fair and manageable.

Eric Klein: We will continue to use a multi-year budget to keep a balanced budget. This allows us to have healthy reserves while not spending ourselves into a deficit. Looking for continuous process improvement in all of our departments allows us to work more efficiently within Clive. Seeking out ways to partner with our neighboring communities in fire protection, police departments, road and traffic improvements, and stormwater management helps us to work smarter not harder. We will continue to look for ways to collaborate with other communities to keep Clive taxes one of the lowest in the metro area.

CLIVE, Iowa —

A Drake University volunteer hockey coach has been dismissed, and a popular Clive bar is facing threats and backlash after images surfaced showing Donnie Gardner dressed as a Nazi at a business' Halloween bash.

Gardner confirmed he wore the outfit to KCCI Monday morning.

The images — taken inside Miss Kitty’s Bar — show the man wearing a swastika armband, an iron cross medallion, and a cropped mustache. In one photo circulating on social media, he raises his arm in a Nazi salute while posing beside two smiling women.

One of those women has been identified as Jessie Rudin, a volunteer coach for the Drake University Hockey Club and former Bulldogs player. Drake confirmed Saturday that Rudin has been removed from her coaching role, calling the behavior “completely inconsistent” with the university’s values.

“Drake University unequivocally condemns all forms of hate speech and discriminatory symbolism,” said Vice President and Dean of Students Jerry Parker, Ph.D. “Such behavior stands in direct opposition to our values of respect, inclusion, and integrity.”

Kennedy Power says she was stunned when she first saw the man’s costume.

"(I was in) shock, just utter disbelief. This cannot be real," Power told KCCI.

WATCH: Central Iowa man wears Hitler costume to local bar's Halloween party

In a video Power provided to KCCI, she can be heard alerting staff about the man’s appearance.

An employee responds, “It’s a costume.”

Power said she received a similar response from the owner moments later, which she calls disappointing.

“We’re seriously downplaying how big of a deal dressing up as a Nazi is,” Power said.

Miss Kitty’s owner, who goes by E.J., but asked his last name not be shared because of death threats he's received as a result of the incident, said he regrets not acting sooner but insists the man was asked to leave.

“I wish I would have just said thank you for bringing it to my attention. I’ll take care of it,” E.J. said about his interaction with Power.

E.J. said he noticed the man at the same moment Power approached him. At the time, he estimated around 400 people were in the establishment, many in costume. He said the delay in his response was due to sheer shock.

“I just needed to go in my office, clear my head and think about it. Then I realized, this guy obviously needs to go," E.J. said.

E.J. said the backlash since then has been overwhelming.

“I’ve had several death threats today,” he told KCCI. “I do feel like we’re being treated unfairly. This is my livelihood.”

He said Miss Kitty’s phone and social media pages were disabled after the bar was flooded with angry messages. A handwritten sign also appeared on the establishment's exterior that read "we (heart) nazis."

The Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines called the incident “antisemitism, not satire.”

“Hitler is not a costume,” the organization said in a statement. “Free speech is not a shield for minimizing hate. We expect our community’s businesses and institutions to reject antisemitism clearly and immediately.”

In a message to the group's community, the federation criticized what it called “a minimization of hate” and urged Iowans to reject antisemitism and the trivialization of the Holocaust.

Rudin also appears on Easterseals Iowa’s employee website. The organization said the photo “does not reflect our values,” though it declined to say whether disciplinary action has been taken.

Meanwhile, Miss Kitty’s said costume policies will change for future events.

“We do not support Nazis and never will,” E.J. said.