City Council Updates

[Bondurant, Iowa, January 5, 2022] 2022 brought with it some changes in Bondurant, which include the newly-appointed City Council Member Chad Driscoll, newly-elected City Council Member Matt Sillanpaa, newly-elected Mayor Doug Elrod and re-elected City Council Member Bob Peffer.

A vacancy occurred on City Council effective January 1, 2022, when Council Member Elrod was sworn in as Mayor. The City Council discussed the issue of whether to appoint or call for a special election. Ultimately, due to the cost of a special election and that there were two candidates for two council seats in the most recent election, the Council made the determination to appoint to fill the vacancy.

Interviews were held the week of December 13. The Council appointed Chad Driscoll to the open vacancy. Driscoll has served on the Bondurant Tree Board since 2018 and the Board of Adjustments since 2020. Driscoll has experience with strategic planning and community outreach. Driscoll will serve the remaining City Council term until 12/31/2023.

Bob Peffer has served on the Bondurant City Council since 2014. Peffer was appointed to carry out a former Council Member’s term and has been reelected two times since. Peffer has served on the Bondurant Tree Board since 2016, the Metro Waste Authority Advisory Committee, is an acting liaison of the Bondurant Parks and Recreation Board and the Bondurant Community Foundation, former board member at East Polk Innovation Collaborative, former commission member at Iowa City Human Rights Commission, and former board member at Des Moines Metropolitan Wastewater Reclamation Authority. Peffer has experience in behavioral science and real-estate.

Matt Sillanpaa was elected to a full four-year term as a Bondurant City Council Member. Sillanpaa is an active community member who trains at and operates the Bondurant local gym, Brickhouse Fitness. Sillanpaa is also a Rugby Strength and Conditioning Coach for Southeast Polk High School, a Russian Kettlebell Certified (RKC) Level 1 Coach and has a baccalaureate degree specializing in health promotion. Sillanpaa has been a Bondurant Chamber of Commerce member for three years and a former member of the Grand View University Health Promotion Advisory Board. Sillanpaa has experience in business management and personal fitness training.

Doug Elrod has served on the Bondurant City Council since 2015. Elrod was elected to a full four-year term as the Bondurant Mayor. Elrod is a Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority Commissioner, Polk County Emergency Management Board Member, an active supporter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and former participant in the Habitat for Humanity and other United Way campaigns. Elrod has 23 years of experience within the P/C insurance field.