‘Candidates 2011’ Archives
Author: rachellethomas Published: October 14th, 2010
Deb Ballalatak
House District 72
Albia
Contact: 641-932-2933
Debra Ballalatak is a native of Monroe County. A graduate of Albia High School, currently she is a homemaker and a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Deb is a proud member of the NRA and the Brain Injury Association of America. Deb is also active with Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. She is a member of the Cadillac & LaSalle Club and an Honorary member of the Iowa State Sheriffs and Deputies Association Institute. She and husband Jim, a diesel mechanic for Ben Shinn Trucking, have been together 30 years. They have 3 grown daughters, Kristin Kirk {Ryan}, SammyJo and Andrea.
Deb is running to bring fresh ideas and a new sensitivity to the state house, and to better represent the families, farmers, veterans, small business owners and residents of District 72. Deb has the determination to bring change to Iowa government and make Iowa a better place to live, work and raise a family.
Deb was denied health care for over 18 years due to a pre-existing condition, and consequently has a strong passion for providing affordable health care to all Iowans. She also aims to bring quality jobs to the state, honor our veterans and service members, and protect the elderly and the disabled.
Her family taught her the importance of hard work from an early age, and she vows to bring that work ethic to the Iowa House. Her experience growing up in rural Monroe county and working in her family’s business has given her a hands-on education in fiscal responsibility during hard times. She hopes to bring that discipline to the Capitol.
Tags: Deb Ballalatak, HD 72, Iowa House District 72
Category Candidates 2011, Recent News |
Author: rachellethomas Published: October 13th, 2010
Pat Van Zante
House District 71
Pella
Pat has worked and volunteered for her state and community. Pat is a founder of Hospice of Pella. She has worked as a clinical social worker for 25 years helping individuals, children and troubled families throughout Iowa. She has worked for Capstone Behavioral Health in Newton for 10 years. Pat was an Adjunct Professor for 6 years with DMACC-Newton. Pat has volunteered for her community with many organizations and causes, from the League of Women Voters to the Union Street Players and the Pella Community Theater. She recently completed a 6 month term as Chairman of the Marion County Democratic Party Central Committee, where she has been a member for two years. She has been a delegate to county and State conventions, and poll watcher for Pella precinct #3. She was the Democratic candidate for State Representative in 2008 in District 71.
Pat grew up in Des Moines, and is a fifth generation Iowan. She graduated from Des Moines Roosevelt High School, obtained her BA in Sociology/Criminology and Masters in Social Work from the University of Iowa. She has been married to Arvin for 38+ years and they have lived in Pella for 33 years. The VanZante’s have two grown married children, Libby & Jason Kyte, Peter & Elle VanZante and two grandchildren Riley & Eleanor Kyte.
Pat brings a wide range of interests, knowledge and experience to all her endeavors. Her extensive and eclectic background will make her a responsive, progressive, and forward looking representative for Iowa and her House District.
Tags: HD 71, Iowa House District 71, Pat Van Zante, Pella
Category Candidates 2011, Recent News |
Author: rachellethomas Published: October 12th, 2010
Ruth Ann Gaines
House District 65
Des Moines
Contact: 515-280-9034
Ruth Ann Gaines was born in Des Moines, Iowa in 1947. She was educated in the parochial school system. She received a BA degree in Drama/Speech in 1969 from Clarke College in Dubuque, Iowa and a M.A. in Dramatic Art from the University of California in Santa Barbara in 1970. She has been teaching drama at East High School and Speech and Drama at Des Moines Area Community College since 1971. Ruth Ann has served on numerous boards and commissions throughout the years. She was appointed to the State Foster Care Review Board by Governor Tom Vilsack in 2000 and is currently serving on the Iowa Arts Council where she was appointed by Governor Chet Culver in 2008. She is also currently a Des Moines Human Rights Commissioner. She has been a Commissioner since 2004.
Ruth Ann has created many initiatives in the educational arena. She has taught diversity courses to teachers since 1979 at the Heartland Area Education Agency in Des Moines and most recently at Viterbo University Iowa Center in West Des Moines. She has also been recognized as a national diversity trainer for colleges and universities, businesses, corporations and churches.
Among the many initiatives she has created for the Des Moines Public Schools is Sisters for Success, a mentorship program for African American middle and high school girls. This program has been used as a model for other like programs in schools throughout the state.
She is also well known throughout the state for her acting and directing endeavors. Last fall she directed a 32 episode radio drama that was a part of the Iowa Initiative to prevent unwanted pregnancies, chaired by Christie Vilsack and Sally Pederson. This program aired in various communities throughout the state and will also be made available to schools. She has hosted her own radio and television shows, and is an accomplished public speaker.
Ruth Ann was a 1987 YWCA Woman of Achievement and the 1993 Rotary High School Teacher of the Year. She was the 1998 Iowa Teacher of the Year and one of four finalists for National Teacher of the Year. During the last few years, she has also been inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame, the Iowa African American Hall of Fame and the Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame. In 2002 she was selected as a Central Iowa Woman of Influence. She was given the key to the city by Mayor Preston Daniels in 2003 and received an Iowa Character Counts Award in 2005. She served on the Loras College Board of Regents from 2001-2004 and was the recipient of the Martin Luther King Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008. Ruth Ann is also a graduate of Leadership Iowa in 1996 and a 2002 graduate of the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute.
Ruth Ann is a single adoptive parent of a child with multiple disabilities. In 1984, she was one of 15 single persons to adopt in Iowa. She has worked for and served on numerous committees and boards to help the disabled. She served on Very Special Arts Iowa Board and has sponsored many special needs artists in the Des Moines community.
Ruth Ann has sought political office in the past. She ran for the Iowa Senate in 1994 and the Des Moines City Council in 2004. She is a lifelong Democrat.
Tags: des moines, HD 65, Iowa House District 65, Ruth Ann Gaines
Category Candidates 2011, Recent News, Uncategorized |
Author: rachellethomas Published: October 11th, 2010
John Sachs
House District 63
Urbandale
Contact: 515-276-8939
John Sachs was born on August 15, 1951, in Rockford, Illinois. His parents John and Lorraine are a plant manager (retired) and a BSN nursing instructor (retired). He is the oldest of seven children; three brothers and three sisters. He attended parochial schools in Rockford and graduated from South Mecklenburg Senior High School in Pineville NC. He attended Milwaukee School of Engineering, and Rockford College. He graduated from Northern Illinois University in 1976 with a degree in Business. By working three years installing telephone switching equipment and going to night school, John completed his undergraduate education without any loans. He took classes towards an MS in Marketing from Iowa State University.
John married his wife, Janice, in 1984 in Ames. Jan is an Iowa native from Sioux County. They have one son, John, a student at Iowa State University and Eagle Scout. They are Catholic.
He is semi-retired. He has thirty years of business background in central Iowa in management, finance, systems analysis, industrial engineering and materials management. He is a past member of American Production and Inventory Control Society (former Board Member and CPIM) and past member of the National Association of Purchasing Managers.
He is involved in the following community activities: Boy Scouts of America (Troop 44 committee member, Wood Badge, and two trips to the Boundary Waters); Fourth degree member of the Knights of Columbus, (former Grand Knight); Alumnae Association Member of Northern Illinois University, Iowa State University and University of Iowa; Habitat for Humanity contributor and volunteer; Des Moines Art Center member; former member of the Ames Town and College Toastmasters.
John is a “This Old House” devotee, and has tackled many home updating projects, short of laying the foundation. He builds and updates computers. He enjoys traveling and family events, particularly in Iowa/Midwest venues. He is a history buff and avid reader, and is especially interested in the Civil War.
Tags: HD 63, Iowa House District 63, John Sachs
Category Candidates 2011, Recent News |
Author: deanfiihr Published: October 8th, 2010
Andrew McDowell
House District 59
West Des Moines
Contact: 515-238-1299
Andrew McDowell grew up on a diversified family farm in NW Iowa – the oldest of four children. Andrew’s father farms corn, soybeans, and a small hog herd near Archer, Iowa and his mother teaches sixth grade language arts in the Sheldon Community School district. From an early age he was taught responsibility, hard work, and service from his parents. In his youth, Andrew was active in 4-H, church youth group, baseball, and piano lessons. In High School, Andrew was involved with student government, choir, FFA, and held the distinction of serving as Presidents of the Senior Class, National Honor Society, and Student Council all at the same time and was even voted Homecoming King. Andrew graduated from Sheldon High School in 1994.
Andrew attended the University of Northern Iowa and received an Organizational Communications Studies degree in May of 1998. While at UNI, he was involved with the UNI Varsity Men’s Glee Club and various UNI residence hall organizations – serving as President of his residence hall for a semester where he helped to implement some really great programs and ideas in Noehren Hall.
Currently, Andrew works at Nationwide Agribusiness as a Commercial Lines Underwriter in their farm owners program. He has been with Nationwide over 10 years. Andrew also spent a year as an independent insurance agent at ARI Services, Ltd in Sheldon, Iowa where he sold and serviced personal lines insurance products. Andrew holds CPCU and AFIS insurance designations and was recently accepted to participate in the exclusive 2010 Emerging Leaders Program through Nationwide. Andrew also works part time at Hamilton’s Funeral Homes in Des Moines assisting families and guests with funeral visitations and services.
Andrew keeps busy serving on the board of directors of the 21st Century Forum, and the Iowa Scriptwriters Alliance. He has been on the board of Winchester Square Townhome Association serving as President for eighteen months and recently as treasurer. Andrew is also a member of the Iowa Motion Picture Association and the Iowa Corn growers Association and has participated in Junior Achievement and volunteered for Goodwill Industries of Central Iowa, and the University of Northern Iowa.
Andrew attends Jordan Creek United Methodist Church in West Des Moines and enjoys travelling, running, movies, writing, connecting with family and friends, and reading in his spare time.
Category Candidates 2011, Recent News |
Deb Ballalatak
