My name is Tom Hess. I am the Republican candidate for Iowa House District 34 in south Des Moines, Iowa.
I am a life-long resident of south Des Moines. I grew up with seven siblings in the Blank Park Zoo neighborhood area. I attended Maple Grove (anyone else remember this school..??), Horace Mann, and Christ the King elementary schools. Four years at the 'old' Dowling High School followed ...where I was soundly defeated (as I remember it) running for Student Council Treasurer one year.
Three years of active military service in the U.S. Army followed. After my honorable discharge I returned to Des Moines and worked a series of jobs (Manpower, Great Plains Bag Company, etc.). I then attended college at UNI, Drake University (part time while working at Great Plains), and a year-long medical technology program at Iowa Methodist Medical Center, IMMC.
Sometime in here, I met my young bride and we were soon married. Graduation from college followed, a new job as a medical technologist (at IMMC, just passed my thirty year anniversary there), a new house (just a half mile or so from my childhood home), and three beautiful babies ...all 'twenty-somethings' now.
Over the years I have been active in both Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, serving as a Cubmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster for several Scout Packs and Troops. I was also active in Fort Des Moines Little League and served for years as a Board Member and Treasurer of the South Des Moines Amateur Girls Softball Association.
My wife and I have lived in our current home for thirty years now. We have seen and experienced the growth of the south side ...in both good ways and bad ways. We have always been and remain proud to be called 'south-siders'.
I hope this brief 'life summary' will give you a better understanding of my long-term and ongoing commitment to south-side Des Moines, its neighborhoods, and my fellow neighbors and citizens. Tom Hess