Alex P. Gates

Community Growth

  • Promote and embrace civility in our public discourse
  • Create a welcoming environment for visitors, shoppers, patrons, and residents

  • Continue to include citizen-involved processes in decision-making

Economic Vitality

  • Capitalize on the many talents of Windsor Heights residents
  • Support small business owners in our community
  • Attract and retain creative people and unlock their potential to contribute to the Windsor Heights economy
  • Create ways to incentivize homeowners' property and home improvements
  • Prioritize our city's infrastructure by making it sound and focusing on comprehensive repair

Regional Collaboration

  • Embrace and promote Windsor Heights' role as the heart and hub of the Greater Des Moines metro
  • Work to improve metro-wide relationships and projects
  • Provide leadership for connectivity and mobility in our region

I believe that all of our citizens should have their voices heard, which is why I ran for city council in 2017. As evident by my first term of service, I am a person who likes to build relationships and grow collaborations to get things done.

Prior to serving you on the council, I had the privilege to serve several years on the Board of Adjustment and the Planning and Zoning Commission. I also represented Windsor Heights on the Des Moines Sister Cities Commission.

Professionally, I've had the opportunity to work for life-long public servants, in state government, and for our metro community at large. Each experience has given me the chance to learn, grow, and develop an understanding and appreciation for for people from all walks of life, and the issues that affect them. I currently serve as the Executive Director of The Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement at Drake University.

I first visited Iowa in 2002 when I'd taken a leave of absence from my job in Atlanta. I set out on a mission to go to a state I'd never been to before, take a job "without any help", and take whatever job I was offered, which resulted in the opportunity to spend six months working on a campaign. After returning to my job in Atlanta later that year, I realized that I liked Greater Des Moines better and Iowa was where I was supposed to be.

I quickly sought jobs that would allow me to follow my passions and put my talents to work. I moved to Windsor Heights on a snowy day in March 2003 and it has been home for me ever since.

I also find it important to give back to our community, which led me to volunteer service at Junior Achievement and serving on the board of the Des Moines Public Library Foundation. My current volunteer roles include helping young people through Business Horizons and Everybody Wins! Iowa, and serving on the boards of Mid-Iowa Health Foundation and Greater Des Moines Community Foundation.

I look forward to continuing to hear your thoughts about our community and sharing my own with you.

Your neighbor,
-Joseph Jones