Ray Zirkelbach
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| Member of the Iowa House of Representatives from the 31st district | |
| In office January 10, 2005 – January 9, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Gene Manternach |
| Succeeded by | Lee Hein |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1978-10-20) October 20, 1978 (age 45) Manchester, Iowa, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Divorced |
| Children | 2 other children |
| Residence | Monticello, Iowa |
| Alma mater | University of Wyoming (B.A.) |
| Website | Zirkelbach's website |
| [1][2] | |
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Ray Zirkelbach (born October 20, 1978) is a former state legislator, prison counselor and soldier. He was raised on a farm in Scotch Grove, Iowa and graduated from Monticello High School in 1997. Zirkelbach served in the Iowa House of Representatives, representing the 31st District, from 2005 to 2011. He was deployed in Iraq as an Iowa National Guard sergeant,[3] in the First Battalion of the 133rd Infantry.[1] He holds a BA from the University of Wyoming in Administration of Justice.
He did not sit in the 2006 or 2007 session of the Iowa House, because he was on active duty with the Iowa National GuardinIraq.[4][5]
During his last term in the Iowa House, he was Chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee and a member of the Appropriations, Commerce and Agricultural committees, and was selected to serve on the Justice Systems Appropriations Committee.[2]
Ray has since continued his public service as a correctional counselor at the Anamosa State Penitentiary and program director of Advancement Services of Jones County. He has focused his efforts in community restoration projects and has since purchased and actively renovates properties in the area.
On November 8, 2015, Zirkelbach announced he intended to explore a campaign for the US Senate. Zirkelbach declined pursuing the nomination, focusing on macro-level social work. At this time Zirkelbach works as consultant and documentarian for an urban farming project in Flint, Michigan.
Zirkelbach was first elected to the Iowa House in 2004 with 8,712 votes, defeating incumbent Republican opponent Gene Manternach.[6] He was reelected in 2006 with 8,447 votes, running unopposed.[7] He was reelected in 2008 with 9,818 votes, defeating Republican opponent Dena Himes in a campaign that focused on ethanol, wind energy, and veterans affairs.[2][8]
Zirkelbach endorsed U.S. Senator Christopher Dodd in the 2008 Democratic presidential primaries.[9] He proposed a ban on the sale of imported flags (U.S. flagorIowa state flag) in Iowa.[10] He lost his bid for reelection in 2010 with 5,431 votes, losing to Republican Lee Hein.[11]
*incumbent
| Election | Political result | Candidate | Party | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa House of Representatives primary elections, 2004 [12] District 31 Turnout: 1,462 | Democratic | Ray Zirkelbach | Democratic | 898 | 61.4 | ||
| Joyce Jarding | Democratic | 562 | 38.4 | ||||
| Iowa House of Representatives elections, 2004 [6] District 31 Turnout: 15,092 | Democratic gain from Republican | Ray Zirkelbach | Democratic | 8,172 | 54.1 | ||
| Gene A. Mantermach* | Republican | 6,910 | 45.8 | ||||
| 2006 Iowa House of Representatives elections [7] District 31 | Democratic hold | Raymond Zirkelbach* | Democratic | unopposed | |||
| 2008 Iowa House of Representatives elections [8] District 31 Turnout: 14,922 | Democratic hold | Ray Zirkelbach* | Democratic | 9,818 | 65.8 | ||
| Dena Himes | Republican | 5,096 | 34.2 | ||||
| 2010 Iowa House of Representatives elections [11] District 31 Turnout: 12,040 | Republican gain from Democratic | Lee Hein | Republican | 6,280 | 52.2 | ||
| Ray Zirkelbach* | Democratic | 5,431 | 45.1 | ||||
In the 31st District for the Iowa House. incumbent Ray Zirkelbach won re-election, beating out Republican Dena Himes.
Iowa state Rep. Ray Zirkelbach (D) missed the entire 2006 session of the General Assembly because his National Guard unit was deployed to Iraq. Iowa House members draped an American flag over his desk on opening day. A legislative aide said no one filled in for him. Zirkelbach, who is running unopposed for re-election this year, currently is home on leave but will return to Iraq.
Rep. Ray Zirkelbach, D-Monticello, ... will miss the entire legislative session because his deployment was extended. He is a member of the 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry, which was scheduled to return home in March but was extended to August.
State Representative Ray Zirkelbach, a veteran of the Iraq War and a Purple Heart recipient, announced today that he is endorsing Chris Dodd for President.
| Iowa House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | 31st District 2005 – 2011 |
Succeeded by |
