Council Bluffs Republican Art Hill, Monday, announced his decision to run for Iowa Senate in District 11. The district covers 2,200 miles in Pottawattamie, Cass, Adams, and Union Counties. Hill stopped in Atlantic Monday afternoon following his announcement at the Public Library in Council Bluffs. Speaking with KJAN News, Hill, who works as the City of Council Bluffs’ Finance Director, said he’s tossing his hat in the ring this early in the political season because there’s a lot of work to be done and many miles to cover before the Primary election, which is about 300 days away.

Hill says after reapportionment in 2011, he looked at the new district and saw how radically it had changed. He also looked at the common threads between Council Bluffs, Atlantic and Creston. They each have campuses with community colleges that provide an opportunity for graduates to get good jobs, and that’s something he wants to continue to see happen. Fellow Republican, Senator Hubert Houser, currently presides over the 11th District. Houser has not announced his intentions with regard to re-election. Hill says he spoke with Houser in May and informed him of his intentions. He says he respects Houser and whatever plans he makes. Hill says if Houser decides to run against him in the Spring, voters in the four counties should feel they would be well represented by either of the two men. No democrats have announced their intentions early in this political season to challenge Hill or Houser in the 2014 elections.

Hill says his experience as Finance Director for Council Bluffs, and a former Business Manager for the Lewis Central Community School District, gives him an edge when it comes to fiscal responsibility. He says “Finding an equitable way of raising tax revenue for services we ask for from our government in the future is important. He says in Iowa, that means simplifying the tax code. On a national level, he says a Fair Tax is important. Voter integrity is also important to Hill, who says voter ID laws are one way of ensuring the elections are legitimate on the state and national level. Hill says he supports efforts by Secretary of State Matt Schultz to ensure election integrity. He says also, a common core of values and beliefs are important to the future of our society.

He says “As a country we’ve developed a culture that has provided many blessings and providence for our country and it’s based on a core set of values and beliefs.” Hills says “Maintaining a sense of purpose…and a set of values we can rally around is important for any society to be ongoing.”

Hill has lived in Council Bluffs with his wife Andrea for the past 18-years. The couple have been married for 35-years. They have two adult children.