Ames will be getting a new mayor for the first time since 2006 and the third ward will have new representation for the first time since 2013.

Four candidates are running for City Council this year, two of them uncontested for their current seats, and two running head to head for the third ward seat. Meet the candidates who might be representing you in local government.

Gloria Betcher

Gloria Betcher is an adjunct associate professor at Iowa State University and is an incumbent running unopposed for the City Council third ward. She received her bachelor’s cum laude in medieval studies and Latin from St. Olaf’s College and received her master’s and Ph.D. in English from the University of Minnesota.

Betcher currently serves on the Ames Economic Development Commission Board and the Ames Historic Preservation Commission, in which she has been chair of for seven years.

Her primary values include neighborhood stabilization, quality of life around campustown and economic growth in Ames. Betcher is also heavily focused on improving relations between students and long-term residents through various efforts including the Campus and Community Commission.

Rob Bowers

Rob Bowers is the current Iowa State associate director of public safety running against David Martin for City Council member Peter Orazem’s seat in the third ward.

Bowers has served on the Iowa State Police Department for 32 years, the Iowa State University Professional and Scientific Council and is the current Vice Chair of the Ames Planning and Zoning Commission. He is a graduate of Iowa State, receiving his bachelor’s degree in political science and economics as well as receiving a master’s degree in public administration.

Bowers’ largest platform initiative is to increase private sector job growth. In addition, Bowers feels that the creation of a public gathering space is crucial to the campustown community. Bowers, as someone with a background in law enforcement, has spoken publicly about the importance of public safety.

Amber Corrieri

Amber Corrieri is an at–large member of the City of Ames Council and a graduate of Iowa State University. She was first elected to City Council in 2013 and is running uncontested for her current seat.

Corrieri previously worked in the financial field but currently directs Mainstream Living, a nonprofit organization that provides residential and support services to people with disabilities or mental illnesses.

Corrieri’s primary concerns are affordable housing, the Healthy Life Center and a public gathering space in campustown. Corrieri is heavily focused on increasing and strengthening human services through implementing an outcomes-based measurement system. She also believes in investment in campustown and downtown Ames, as well as incentivizing non-formula business growth in Ames.

David Martin

David Martin currently works full time as a consultant at his company David Martin Consulting for computer technology and is running against Rob Bowers for outgoing City Council member Peter Orazem’s third ward seat.

Martin is an Iowa State graduate, majored in mathematics and computer science and received his doctorate in computer science from Boston University. Martin does not have experience in public office but feels that his experience living in various places, including California and Germany, has given him a unique ability to communicate and collaborate.

Martin hopes to promote inclusivity in Ames as an openly gay elected official as well as improve internet connectivity by treating reliable high-speed internet as infrastructure. Martin is also focused on affordable housing and providing opportunities to those in Ames that he feels he received while growing up in near campustown.