City Council Appoints New Ankeny Mayor

The Ankeny City Council has appointed a new mayor to fill the seat vacated by Steven Van Oort last week.

The council voted 5-0 to appoint Gary Lorenz to the seat. Lorenz was one of seven applicants vying for the position.

"I was looking at someone who could jump right in, someone who was well respected and someone who could easily make those connections across the community," said council member Bobbi Bentz. "I believe Gary Lorenz can do that."

The other six candidates were Andrew Boscaljon, Dennis Richard Ellars, Peter Hong, Michael Sibert, James Stordahl and Jeff Wright.

Lorenz is a former council member who served for two terms, including one year as Mayor Pro Tem. He has also served on the Ankeny Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and is partner and CFO for Lorenz & Jones Marine Distributors in Ankeny.

"I feel that Ankeny is a great community and has an incredible amount of community pride," Lorenz said in his application letter to the city. "I feel that I can provide the qualities and experience Ankeny needs to move forward."

Lorenz will serve the remainder of Van Oort's term, which ends Dec. 31, 2013. Van Oort officially resigned last Friday to take over as Polk County supervisor, a role to which he was recently elected.

The council made official its intentions to appoint an individual to be the next mayor of Ankeny at a meeting on Nov. 19. Council members said they considered an appointment to be the most practical way to fill the vacancy.

Ankeny residents can still petition the council for a special election.

To hold a special election, petitions must be filed with the city clerk within 14 days after the appointment is made.