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Ruth Ann Gaines

D

Iowa State House, District 32 (2010 - Present)

Quick Facts
  • Full Name:
    Ruth Ann Gaines
  • Gender:
    Female
  • Birth Date:
    1947
  • Birth Place:
    Des Moines, IA
  • Home City:
    Des Moines, IA
  • Family:
    Partner: Vidal; 1 Son: Brandon
Personal Details

Ruth Ann Gaines is a Democratic member of the Iowa House of Representatives, representing District 32. She was first elected to the chamber in 2010.

Gaines earned her B.A. in Drama and Speech from Clarke College and her M.A. in Dramatic Art from the University of California at Santa Barbara. Her professional experience includes teaching.

Education

  • Graduated, Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute, 2002
  • Attended, Leadership Iowa, 1996
  • MA, Dramatic Art, University of California at Santa Barbara, 1970
  • BA, Drama/Speech, Clarke College, 1969

Professional Experience

  • Graduated, Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute, 2002
  • Attended, Leadership Iowa, 1996
  • MA, Dramatic Art, University of California at Santa Barbara, 1970
  • BA, Drama/Speech, Clarke College, 1969
  • Instructor/Facilitator of Diversity Courses, Heartland Area Education Agency, 1979-present
  • Instructor, Des Moines Area Community College, 1971-present
  • Instructor, Viterbo University Iowa Center in West Des Moines, present
  • Former Host/Producer, Classroom Connection.
  • Former Director, Queen Street
  • Drama Teacher/Director, East High School, 1971-2011

Political Experience

  • Graduated, Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute, 2002
  • Attended, Leadership Iowa, 1996
  • MA, Dramatic Art, University of California at Santa Barbara, 1970
  • BA, Drama/Speech, Clarke College, 1969
  • Instructor/Facilitator of Diversity Courses, Heartland Area Education Agency, 1979-present
  • Instructor, Des Moines Area Community College, 1971-present
  • Instructor, Viterbo University Iowa Center in West Des Moines, present
  • Former Host/Producer, Classroom Connection.
  • Former Director, Queen Street
  • Drama Teacher/Director, East High School, 1971-2011
  • Representative, Iowa State House of Representatives, District 32, 2010-present
  • Candidate, Iowa State House of Representatives, District 32, 2020
  • Candidate, Des Moines City Council, 2004
  • Candidate, Iowa State Senate, 1994

Former Committees/Caucuses

Former Ranking Member, Administration and Rules Committee, Iowa State House of Representatives

Former Ranking Member, Government Oversight Committee, Iowa State House of Representatives

Former Member, Human Resources Committee, Iowa State House of Representatives

Former Member, Public Safety Committee, Iowa State House of Representatives

Former Member, Subcommittee on Education, Iowa State House of Representatives

Current Legislative Committees

Member, Education Committee

Ranking Member, Government Oversight Committee

Member, Local Government Committee

Member, Veterans Affairs Committee

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

  • Graduated, Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute, 2002
  • Attended, Leadership Iowa, 1996
  • MA, Dramatic Art, University of California at Santa Barbara, 1970
  • BA, Drama/Speech, Clarke College, 1969
  • Instructor/Facilitator of Diversity Courses, Heartland Area Education Agency, 1979-present
  • Instructor, Des Moines Area Community College, 1971-present
  • Instructor, Viterbo University Iowa Center in West Des Moines, present
  • Former Host/Producer, Classroom Connection.
  • Former Director, Queen Street
  • Drama Teacher/Director, East High School, 1971-2011
  • Representative, Iowa State House of Representatives, District 32, 2010-present
  • Candidate, Iowa State House of Representatives, District 32, 2020
  • Candidate, Des Moines City Council, 2004
  • Candidate, Iowa State Senate, 1994
  • Member, Pyramid Theater Company Advisory Board, 2016-present
  • Board Member, Candeo, present
  • Member, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Graduate Chapter, present
  • Member, Friends of Des Moines Human Rights, present
  • Board Member, Iowa Juneteenth Observation, present
  • Founder/Volunteer, Sisters for Success, present
  • Founder, Voices of Change Performing Group, present
  • Former Member, Des Moines Area Religious Council
  • Former Charter Member, Des Moines Optimist Club
  • Former Board Member, Des Moines Tutoring Board
  • Former Member, Drama Workshop
  • Former Board Member, Eyerly-Ball
  • Former Board Member, Holy Family Foundation
  • Former Board Member, Hospice of Central Iowa
  • Appointed by Governor Culver, Former Member, Iowa Arts Council
  • Former Member, Loras College Board of Regents
  • Former Board Member, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
  • Former Member, Prevent Child Abuse Iowa
  • Former Member, Repertory Theater of Iowa
  • Founder, Silent Vibrations Mime Performing Group
  • Appointed by Governor Vilsack, Former Member, State Foster Care Review Board
  • Former Board Member, Very Special Arts Iowa
  • Former Board Member, Westminister House
  • Former Board Member, Young Women's Christian Association
  • Commissioner, Des Moines Human Rights Commission, 2004-2011
  • President, Friends of Des Moines Human Rights, 2007-2011

Other Info

— Awards:

  • Des Moines Education Association's Friend of Education Award
  • George Washington Carver Award from Simpson College
  • Young Women's Christian Association, Woman of Achievement, 1987
  • Rotary High School Teacher of the Year, Des Moines Public Schools Rotary Club, 1993
  • Iowa Teacher of the Year, Department of Education, 1998
  • Central Iowa Woman of Influence, BusinessRecord.com, 2002
  • Lifetime Achievement Award, I'll Make Me A World in Iowa, 2002
  • Key of the City Recipient, Mayor Preston Daniels, 2003
  • National Teachers Hall of Fame, 2003
  • Iowa African American Hall of Fame, Iowa State University, 2004
  • Iowa Character Award: Citizen of Character, Drake University, 2005
  • Iowa Women's Hall of Fame, The Office on the Status of Women, 2007
  • Minority Teaching Award, University of Northern Iowa, 2008
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award, The Iowa Commission on the Status of African Americans, 2008
  • Excellence in Theater Education Award, The Tony Awards and Carnegie Mellon University, 2010
  • National Broadway Teacher of the Year Award, 2010
  • Volunteer of the Year Award, Fort Des Moines Museum and Education Center, 2011
  • Lifetime Achievement Award in Dramatic Arts, Delta Sigma Theta, 2012
  • Alpha Award of Merit, Alpha Phi Alpha, 2014
  • Outstanding Leading Organization/Group, I'll Make Me A World in Iowa, January 2016

Favorite Movie:

Get Real! Wise Women

Favorite Musician:

TILL-A New Musical

Favorite Quote:

"I am ready to bring my passion for kids and the residents in District 32 to the Statehouse. I am ready to listen to the people of Des Moines in District 32, and help our kids and families prepare for the jobs of the 21st Century. With a lot of hard work, I know I can make a difference on Capitol Hill." -Ruth Ann Gaines

Favorite Sport:

Iowa Energy

Favorite TV Shows:

Brown on Black

Priority Issues:

* Create legislation to improve the education

  • system in Iowa.
  • * Support health care reform in Iowa.
  • * Promote the development of new businesses
  • in District 32.
  • * Support family and small businesses in
  • District 32.
  • * Work to create programs that will decrease the
  • incarceration of African-Americans in Iowa.
  • * Promote legislation that respects the rights
  • and dignity of all Iowans.
  • * Always listen to her constituents.

    • — Publications:

    • Gaines: LGBTQ+ conference unjustly criticized in House. The Des Moines Register. March 16, 2016

    State Bills
    Events

    2020

    Jun. 1
    Press Conference

    Mon CDT

    Iowa State Capitol Des Moines, IA

    Voter Guide

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