Representative, Iowa State House of Representatives, District 33, 2023-present

Representative, Iowa State House of Representatives, District 32, 2010-2022

Candidate, Iowa State House of Representatives, District 32, 2020

Candidate, Des Moines City Council, 2004

Candidate, Iowa State Senate, 1994

Member, Committee on International Relations

Member, Economic Growth and Technology Committee

Ranking Member, Ethics Committee

Member, Local Government Committee

Member, Veterans Affairs Committee

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

Former Member, Education 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, Local Government 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

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

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

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