Kathy Narum is living out her California dreams while keeping her values planted in the Midwest.

An Iowa native who now serves on the Pleasanton, Calif., City Councill, Narum leads a family real estate business that has invested heavily in Greater Des Moines and elsewhere in the Midwest.

In the last month alone, Narum’s Forselles II Partners has invested a little more than $9 million in an Urbandale warehouse, a West Des Moines retail center and a McDonald’s restaurant in Ankeny.

Her partners in the business, which was launched by her late father and named after an apartment building, are her brother Richard Reed and sister Ann Fagan.

Narum was born in Waterloo, her mother’s hometown. Her father was raised in the farming community of Veedersburg, Ind. The Reed family wound up in California by way of a job transfer. But Dale Reed’s thoughts remained in the Midwest.

Forselles II Partners has holdings in Polk, Dallas, Jasper, Linn and Story counties, Narum said.

When Dale Reed began having health problems about 10 years ago, Narum, the oldest child, became CEO of the real estate company by default. Her dad remained as the chairman, she said. When his health improved, she wanted to turn operation of the business back to him.

“He said, ‘Nope you’re doing fine. I’m just going to tell you what to do,’ ” Narum said.

Narum said she also learned about the issues surrounding property ownership while serving on the Pleasanton planning and zoning commission. She later ran a city councilman’s successful campaign for mayor. She was elected to fill his spot and was recently re-elected, emerging as the top vote-getter among all candidates.

“I had no aspirations to serve in an elected office,” Narum said. “But the fact of the matter is that I really enjoy it.”