A press release from state Sen. Pat Ward's re-election campaign:

Senate Republican Assistant Leader Pat Ward (R-Clive) today filed her statement of candidacy and nomination papers with Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz and pledged to run an aggressive race to represent Senate District 22, a seat which includes half of her current district of Clive, Windsor Heights, and West Des Moines in addition to a new portion of the district which is Waukee and the Dallas County portions of West Des Moines and Clive.

First elected to the Iowa Senate in 2004 after winning a special election to fill the seat vacated by former U.S. Ambassador Mary Kramer, Ward is now serving her third term in the Iowa Senate. A champion for less spending, lower taxes and increased private sector job creation, Ward is the experienced conservative choice to represent the growing western suburbs of Des Moines.

“We have so much work yet to do and as I listen carefully to citizens of my district, they share my passions for responsible budgeting, less government regulations, lower taxes, more job creation and world-class schools, said Ward who serves as the Ranking Member of the Senate Labor and Business Relations Committee. “I am the electable conservative to represent the citizens of Waukee, Windsor Heights, West Des Moines and Clive and they can count on me to fight for them every day.”

Born and raised on a farm in Missouri, Ward received her Bachelor’s degree from Central Missouri State University.  She brings real world business experience to the Senate, having served for thirteen years as director of public and government relations for an electric utility company in Illinois as well as the former Director of the Senate Republican Caucus staff.

“Pat is a great leader for Iowa because of her work ethic, knowledge and understanding of what it takes to develop careers, create jobs, cut taxes and balance a budget,” said Senate Republican Leader Jerry Behn (R-Boone), who has represented a significant portion of the new Senate District 22 for the past ten years.

Ward currently serves on various boards within the community, is a sustaining member of Junior League, volunteers at local schools, and is also an active member of Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines.

Ward and her husband, John, live in Clive and she has a grown son and daughter.

“I look forward to bringing my optimistic message and hardworking grassroots campaign to every voter as we all join together with the goal of bringing about a better direction for Iowa and a brighter future for our children and grandchildren,” she concluded.