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Ray Zirkelbach
Ray Zirkelbach
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	October 20, 1978 (age 46); 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

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 Guard in Iraq.^[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.

Electoral history

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. flag or Iowa 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			Party	Votes	%
Iowa House of Representatives primary elections, 2004 ^[12] District 31 Turnout: 1,462	Democratic	Ray Zirkelbach	Democratic	898	61.4
	Democratic	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
	Democratic gain from Republican	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
	Democratic hold	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
	Republican gain from Democratic	Ray Zirkelbach*	Democratic	5,431	45.1

References

^ ^a ^b Phillips, Michelle (January 25, 2007). "Iowa Delegation Responds to Botched Announcement of Unit's Extension". Anamosa Journal-Eureka. Jones County, Iowa. Archived from the original on July 24, 2008. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
^ ^a ^b ^c Bragg, Mary Rae (October 28, 2008). "Voter Guide: Ray Zirkelbach" (PDF). Telegraph Herald. Dubuque, Iowa. Retrieved 2009-03-18.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ Squires, Lauren (Nov 5, 2008). "Zirkelbach answers call to serve, state and country". KWWL. Retrieved 2009-03-23. In the 31st District for the Iowa House. incumbent Ray Zirkelbach won re-election, beating out Republican Dena Himes.
^ Vu, Pauline (November 1, 2006). "Iowa Delegation Responds to Botched Announcement of Unit's Extension". Stateline.org. Pew Center On the States. Retrieved 2009-03-18. 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.
^ Gearino, Dan (February 7, 2007). "Group seeks hazard pay increase for Guard troops". Quad-City Times. Davenport, Iowa. Archived from the original on 2016-06-19. Retrieved 2009-03-18. 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.
^ ^a ^b "Canvass Summary - Final - 2004 General Election (11/2/2004)" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. 2004-12-06. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-01-04. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
^ ^a ^b "Official Results Report - Statewide, 2006 General Election 11-07-2006" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. 2006-11-21. p. 32. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-07-15. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
^ ^a ^b "November 4, 2008 General Election Results". Iowa Secretary of State. Archived from the original on 2009-04-08. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
^ "STATE REP AND IRAQ WAR VET RAY ZIRKELBACH ENDORSES CHRIS DODD FOR PRESIDENT (PRESS RELEASE from Dodd for President)". October 12, 2007. Retrieved 2009-03-18. 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.
^ Potratz, Chris (February 8, 2008). "Zirkelbach proposes ban on sale of flags not made in the U.S., sets up $625 fine". Iowa State Daily. Iowa State University. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
^ ^a ^b "Official Results Report, General Election held November 2, 2010". Iowa Secretary of State. 2010-12-16. p. 72. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-11-25. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
^ "Canvass Summary - Final - 2004 Primary Election (6/8/2004)" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. 2004-06-23. p. 32. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-11-30. Retrieved 2011-09-19.