WATERLOO -- A youth ministries director has joined the race for a City Council seat.

Dustin Cox, 28, of 1125 Virginia St., has announced his campaign for the Ward 3 council position up for grabs in the Nov. 3 municipal election.

"I've always loved government and city government; it's been brewing in me for quite awhile," Cox said. "I want to be a bigger part of helping to bring reform to Waterloo."

The director of youth ministries at Celebration First Assembly of God is seeking to replace current Ward 3 Councilman Harold Getty, who is not running for another term. Ryan Madison also has announced his plans to run in Ward 3, which covers the northwest quadrant of the city.

While Cox was born in Waterloo, his family moved to Florida when he was a youngster. But he relished returning to Waterloo to visit his grandparents.

"I had such a love for Waterloo," he said. "So when I was 18 years old, I left Florida � and moved back to Waterloo."

Cox graduated from the University of Northern Iowa and is close to getting a master's degree there in youth administration and human services. He also is a licensed school teacher in Iowa.

Cox has served on the Waterloo Human Rights Commission since May 2008.

His work with the city's younger residents is shaping his initial campaign platform.

"I work with over 100 teenagers on a weekly basis," Cox said, including some who have been deeply affected by a rash of youth violence this year. "I have a burden for young people and what they're going through.

"Public safety is huge for me," he said. "That's got to be our top priority right now."

The candidate also wants to clean up dilapidated homes that have become eyesores.

Cox said he was saddened to hear some residents of his ward talking about moving out of the city.

"We want to make Waterloo a place where people want to live," he said.