Mayor

State of the City Address

Mayor John Edwards spoke about the State of the City at the Clive Chamber of Commerce meeting on March 24, 2026. Topics include:  

• Strategic priorities 
• Resident Satisfaction Survey Results 
• Proposed Budget for FY 2026-27
• Upcoming Capital Improvement Projects  

The presentation recording is available here: 

Biography

John Edwards was first elected Mayor in 2021 and started his first term in January 2022. He was reelected in 2025 and began is second term in January 2026. Prior to that, he was elected to the Clive City Council in 1995 and then re-elected for six additional consecutive terms.

From 1998-2005, and from 2009-2021 he filled the role of mayor pro tempore. He chaired the Personnel Committee from 2018-2021 and served on its predecessor committees for multiple years. Before being elected to the City Council he served on the Clive Library Committee and the Clive Active Park Task Force. He twice was elected Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Des Moines Metropolitan Transit Authority, serving in 1997-98 and 2003-04, with tenure on the MTA Board for more than a decade. From 2007 to 2018 he served on the Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and is currently on the MPO Surface Transportation Program (STP) Funding Subcommittee. He has been a representative to the Metro Advisory Council (MAC) since 2005, was elected chair in 2018, and was re-elected three times after that.

John is Professor of Law, Associate Dean for Information Resources and Technology, and Director of the Law Library at Drake University Law School. He has lived in Clive since 1984 when his position at Drake brought him to the Des Moines metro. John and his wife Beth Ann have three adult children and four grandchildren.

His community activities include:
Des Moines Presbytery Pulpit Supply, since 2012.
St. John's Lutheran Church, Audio Visual Technician, 2015-2022.
Boy Scouts Troop 208, Committee Chair, 1994-98.
Iowa Supreme Court Commission on Planning for the 21st Century, 1995-96.
State Law Library Advisory Committee, 1991-92.
Electronic Research Committee, Iowa State Bar Association, 1984-91.
Crestview Parent-Teacher Council, Co-Chair, 1988-89.
West Des Moines School Bond Referendum Committee, 1990.
Westminster Presbyterian Church (since 1985): Board of Trustees, Congregation President,
Curriculum Review Committee, Elder, Mission Study Team, Nominating Committee,
Personnel Committee Chair, Stewardship Committee Chair, Sunday School Teacher,
Treasurer, Worship Audio-Video Technician, Coed Softball Team Coach/Manager.

Education
University of Missouri-Columbia, M.A.L.S.
University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, J.D.
Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, Missouri, B.A.

Local Honors
Outstanding Citizen of the Year, Clive, 2019.
Presidential Award, Drake Student Bar Association, 1987, 2009, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020.
Friend of The Journal, Drake Journal of Agricultural Law, 2004, 2018, 2020, 2021.
Friend of The Drake Law Review, 2012, 2017, 2024.
Outstanding Volunteer, West Des Moines Community School District, Crestview Elementary
School, 1989-90.

National Award
AALL Hall of Fame inductee, 2021.