A now-former mayor of a rural Iowa town has abruptly resigned, citing local hostility and concerns for his safety.
Bret Van De Pol, who was elected mayor of Dallas Center in 2025, a town of roughly 2,000 residents west of Grimes, submitted his resignation letter on April 16.
In the letter, posted on the city’s Facebook page on Friday, April 17, Van De Pol cited community tensions and stress as reasons for his resignation.
“The level of hostility, conflict, and escalation tied to this position has created a situation where I no longer feel confident in the safety and well-being of my family, myself, or others serving in this capacity,” Van De Pol said.
He also said the “demands of this role have become substantial.”
“The time required to effectively serve as mayor — facilitating meetings, responding to calls and emails, and navigating ongoing community matters — has increasingly taken away time for my career and, most importantly, with my family,” the letter said.
Van De Pol did not reply to a request for comment.
Council member and mayor pro tem Angie Beaudet will serve as interim mayor.
Beaudet did not respond to a request for comment.
Contentious Dallas Center council meeting preceded resignation
Van De Pol did not cite a specific safety concern in his resignation letter, though it came two days after a contentious Dallas Center City Council meeting on Tuesday, April 14.
Shellie Flockhart, a Dallas Center City Council member, said in a Facebook post that “While we didn’t always see eye to eye, I’m truly grateful for the service he gave our community and the heart he poured into supporting Dallas Center’s growth and success.”
Flockhart did not respond to a request for comment.
Kyle Werner is the breaking news and public safety reporter for the Register. Reach him at kwerner@registermedia.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa mayor abruptly resigns, cites ‘hostility and conflict’
Reporting by Kyle Werner, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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