Jack Hatch

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Categories: Iowa Democrats | Iowa State Senators

Jack Hatch (D) is serving his first term in the Iowa Senate after winning election in November 2002. His represents central Des Moines, which includes some of the highest and lowest income families in the state.

Jack is Co-Chair of the Economic Growth Standing Committee and is Co-Chair of the Health and Human Services Appropriations Sub-committee. He also sits on the Human Resources, State Government, and Appropriations committees.

During the 2005 legislative session, Senator Hatch demonstrated his commitment to affordable, quality health care for vulnerable Iowans as he led passage of legislation creating the Community Health Center Incubator Program and the Iowa Collaborative Safety Net Provider Network.

Senator Hatch has received several awards for his work in championing children’s issues. In 2005, Orchard Place, a statewide child and family counseling agency, and the Coalition for Family & Children’s Services in Iowa both awarded Jack the Outstanding Legislator Award for his work on sheparding child welfare initiatives. For his involvement in health care, the Iowa/ Nebraska Primary Care Association recognized Jack as the Underserved Champion of the Year in 2005. For his work with the assisted living’ industry, Senator Hatch also received the Outstanding Service Award from the Iowa Health Care Association in 2005.

In 2001, Senator Hatch received the ‘Community Spirit Award’ from the Business Record publication. In 2003, he was awarded the Friends of Youth Award from the Youth Homes of Mid America, and in 2003 and 2005, the Protector of Children Award from Coalition for Family & Children’s Services in Iowa for his work on the protection of the child welfare budget cuts.

Jack served in the Iowa House of Representatives from 1985 to 1993. In 1993, he accepted the position of State Director with U.S. Senator Tom Harkin. He returned to the Iowa House after winning election in November 2000.

Jack is president and founder of the Hatch Development Group, a real estate development firm. His firm has developed two downtown affordable housing communities, the 56 unit apartment community called the Woodland Avenue Brickstone and the 115 unit East Village Square Apartments. He is presently developing condominiums in two downtown neighborhoods of Des Moines.

Jack graduated from Drake University in 1972 with a BA degree and in 1973, with a Masters in Public Administration. Jack, his wife, Sonja Roberts, and two daughters, Regan, 25, and Caslon, 16, live in the historic Sherman Hill neighborhood of in Des Moines' inner city.