Ray Zirkelbach
{{short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|image = RayUpdatedFile.jpg
|name = Ray Zirkelbach
|state_house =Iowa
|district =31st
|term_start =January 10, 2005
|term_end =January 9, 2011
|preceded =Gene Manternach
|succeeded =Lee Hein
|birth_date ={{birth date and age|mf=yes|1978|10|20}}
|birth_place =Manchester, Iowa, U.S.
|party =Democratic
|spouse =Divorced
|relations =
|children =2 other children
|residence =Monticello, Iowa
|alma_mater =University of Wyoming (B.A.)
|profession =
|signature =
|website = [http://www.ray4ia.com/ Zirkelbach's website]
{{Cite news |last=Bragg |first=Mary Rae |author-link= |date=October 28, 2008 |title=Voter Guide: Ray Zirkelbach |work=Telegraph Herald |location=Dubuque, Iowa |url=http://www.thonline.com/sections/Election08/9.pdf |access-date=2009-03-18}}{{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
}}
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,
{{Cite news |last=Squires |first=Lauren |date=Nov 5, 2008 |title=Zirkelbach answers call to serve, state and country |work=KWWL |url=http://www.kwwl.com/global/story.asp?s=9295223 |access-date=2009-03-23 |quote=In the 31st District for the Iowa House. incumbent Ray Zirkelbach won re-election, beating out Republican Dena Himes.}} in the First Battalion of the 133rd Infantry.
{{Cite news |last=Phillips |first=Michelle |author-link= |date=January 25, 2007 |title=Iowa Delegation Responds to Botched Announcement of Unit's Extension |work=Anamosa Journal-Eureka |location=Jones County, Iowa |url=http://www.anamosaje.com/NewsArchive/2007/Jan/25/news.html |url-status=dead |access-date=2009-03-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724201825/http://www.anamosaje.com/NewsArchive/2007/Jan/25/news.html |archive-date=July 24, 2008}} 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.
{{Cite news |last=Vu |first=Pauline |author-link= |date=November 1, 2006 |title=Iowa Delegation Responds to Botched Announcement of Unit's Extension |work=Stateline.org |publisher=Pew Center On the States |url=http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=153573 |access-date=2009-03-18 |quote=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.}}
{{Cite news |last=Gearino |first=Dan |author-link= |date=February 7, 2007 |title=Group seeks hazard pay increase for Guard troops |work=Quad-City Times |location=Davenport, Iowa |url=http://www.qctimes.com/articles/2007/02/07/news/state/doc45c96bbaeb782246752537.txt |url-status=dead |access-date=2009-03-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160619234829/http://www.qctimes.com/articles/2007/02/07/news/state/doc45c96bbaeb782246752537.txt |archive-date=2016-06-19 |quote=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.}}
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.
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.{{Cite web |date=2004-12-06 |title=Canvass Summary - Final - 2004 General Election (11/2/2004) |url=http://www.sos.state.ia.us/pdfs/elections/2004/general/CanvassSummary.pdf |access-date=2011-09-19 |publisher=Iowa Secretary of State |page=25 |archive-date=2007-01-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070104025211/http://www.sos.state.ia.us/pdfs/elections/2004/general/CanvassSummary.pdf |url-status=dead }} He was reelected in 2006 with 8,447 votes, running unopposed.{{Cite web |date=2006-11-21 |title=Official Results Report - Statewide, 2006 General Election 11-07-2006 |url=http://www.sos.state.ia.us/pdfs/GenOffResults.pdf |access-date=2011-09-19 |publisher=Iowa Secretary of State |page=32 |archive-date=2007-07-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070715101939/http://www.sos.state.ia.us/pdfs/GenOffResults.pdf |url-status=dead }} 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.{{Cite web |title=November 4, 2008 General Election Results |url=http://www.sos.state.ia.us/elections/results/2008GeneralResults.html |access-date=2011-09-19 |publisher=Iowa Secretary of State |archive-date=2009-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090408054656/http://www.sos.state.ia.us/elections/results/2008GeneralResults.html |url-status=dead }}
Zirkelbach endorsed U.S. Senator Christopher Dodd in the 2008 Democratic presidential primaries.{{Cite web |date=October 12, 2007 |title=STATE REP AND IRAQ WAR VET RAY ZIRKELBACH ENDORSES CHRIS DODD FOR PRESIDENT (PRESS RELEASE from Dodd for President) |url=http://www.gwu.edu/~action/2008/dodd/dodd101207pria.html |access-date=2009-03-18 |quote=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.}} He proposed a ban on the sale of imported flags (U.S. flag or Iowa state flag) in Iowa.
{{Cite news |last=Potratz |first=Chris |author-link= |date=February 8, 2008 |title=Zirkelbach proposes ban on sale of flags not made in the U.S., sets up $625 fine |work=Iowa State Daily |location=Iowa State University |url=http://www.iowastatedaily.com/articles/2008/02/08/opinion/20080208-archive2.txt |access-date=2009-03-18}}
He lost his bid for reelection in 2010 with 5,431 votes, losing to Republican Lee Hein.{{Cite web |date=2010-12-16 |title=Official Results Report, General Election held November 2, 2010 |url=http://www.sos.state.ia.us/pdfs/elections/2010/gensummaryorr.pdf |access-date=2011-09-19 |publisher=Iowa Secretary of State |page=72 |archive-date=2018-11-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125175233/https://sos.iowa.gov/ |url-status=dead }}
{{Compact election box no change begin}}
{{Compact election box no change
|election_title =Iowa House of Representatives primary elections, 2004
|election_note =District 31
|election_ref ={{Cite web |date=2004-06-23 |title=Canvass Summary - Final - 2004 Primary Election (6/8/2004) |url=http://www.sos.state.ia.us/pdfs/elections/2004/primary/PrimaryCanvassSummaryFinal.pdf |access-date=2011-09-19 |publisher=Iowa Secretary of State |page=32 |archive-date=2008-11-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081130071340/https://www.sos.state.ia.us/pdfs/elections/2004/primary/PrimaryCanvassSummaryFinal.pdf |url-status=dead }}
|turnout_votes =1,462
|result =
|loser_party =
|winner =Ray Zirkelbach
|winner_party =Iowa Democratic Party
|winner_votes =898
|winner_percent =61.4
|candidate2 =Joyce Jarding
|candidate2_party =Iowa Democratic Party
|candidate2_votes =562
|candidate2_percent =38.4}}
{{Compact election box no change
|election_title =Iowa House of Representatives elections, 2004
|election_note =District 31
|turnout_votes =15,092
|result =gain
|loser_party =Republican Party of Iowa
|winner =Ray Zirkelbach
|winner_party =Iowa Democratic Party
|winner_votes =8,172
|winner_percent =54.1
|candidate2 =Gene A. Mantermach*
|candidate2_party =Republican Party of Iowa
|candidate2_votes =6,910
|candidate2_percent =45.8}}
{{Compact election box no change
|election_title =2006 Iowa House of Representatives elections
|election_note =District 31
|turnout_votes =11,352
|result =hold
|winner =Raymond Zirkelbach*
|winner_party =Iowa Democratic Party
|winner_votes =8,447
|winner_percent =74.4}}
{{Compact election box no change
|election_title =2008 Iowa House of Representatives elections
|election_note =District 31
|turnout_votes =14,922
|result =hold
|loser_party =Republican Party of Iowa
|winner =Ray Zirkelbach*
|winner_party =Iowa Democratic Party
|winner_votes =9,818
|winner_percent =65.8
|candidate2 =Dena Himes
|candidate2_party =Republican Party of Iowa
|candidate2_votes =5,096
|candidate2_percent =34.2}}
{{Compact election box no change
|election_title =2010 Iowa House of Representatives elections
|election_note =District 31
|turnout_votes =12,040
|result =gain
|loser_party =Iowa Democratic Party
|winner =Lee Hein
|winner_party =Republican Party of Iowa
|winner_votes =6,280
|winner_percent =52.2
|candidate2 =Ray Zirkelbach*
|candidate2_party =Iowa Democratic Party
|candidate2_votes =5,431
|candidate2_percent =45.1}}
{{Compact election box no change end}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
{{Portal|Iowa}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20120225042313/http://www3.legis.state.ia.us/ga/member.do?id=783 Ray Zirkelbach] official Iowa General Assembly site
- [https://archive.today/20121212080122/http://www.house.iowa.gov/zirkelbach/ Ray Zirkelbach State Representative] official constituency site
- {{CongLinks | congbio= | votesmart=32676 | fec= | congress= }}
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{{s-par|us-ia-hs}}
{{succession box| title=31st District |before=Gene Manternach | years = 2005 – 2011|after=Lee Hein}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zirkelbach, Ray}}
Category:United States Army personnel of the Iraq War
Category:United States Army non-commissioned officers
Category:People from Monticello, Iowa
Category:American prison officers
Category:University of Wyoming alumni
Category:People from Manchester, Iowa
Category:Democratic Party members of the Iowa House of Representatives