Barry Ehrig

GRUNDY COUNTY – Ahead of the Tuesday, June 2 primary election, the Sun Courier sent brief questionnaires to all three candidates running in the contested Republican primary for Grundy County Supervisor District 4 to replace longtime Supervisor Mark Schildroth who is retiring at the end of the year.

Four Republican candidates initially filed paperwork to run for Schildroth’s seat, including Barry Ehrig, Patrick Knaack, Lon C Larsen, and Derek J. Noteboom. Noteboom ultimately withdrew from the race. No Democrats filed for the June primary.

District 4 includes all of Black Hawk Township (Reinbeck), most of Washington (excluding Grundy Center) and Lincoln, and the southern half of Grant. The office of Grundy County Supervisor District 4 is a four-year term.

Ehrig’s responses are featured below.

BARRY EHRIG

Age: 62

Residence: I live in rural Grundy County

Hometown: Reinbeck

High school alma mater: Reinbeck Community Schools

Profession: Farm Manager and Washington Township Trustee

Education: University of Northern Iowa-BA Finance Management

Family: Married with two adult children

1) Why are you running for the Grundy County Board of Supervisors? (What motivated your candidacy at this time?)

I have had a growing interest in the role of Grundy County Supervisor since relocating back to Grundy County in 2011. Until recently, I felt my focus was best spent raising my children and managing the family farm through periods of change. In addition, Mark Schildroth was the incumbent, and I felt he was doing a great job representing District 4.

Fast-forward to today: my kids are grown and adapting well to adulthood. As a result, I have more time and energy to devote to other pursuits, including serving on the Grundy County Board of Supervisors.

In addition, there is no longer an incumbent running for the District 4 seat. With his departure, the county also loses his skills and experience, and I believe I can help fill that gap. I have 20 years of valuable off-farm experience in business management, analysis, and customer service, along with another 20 years operating and managing the family farm.

I have the time and energy needed to be a devoted Supervisor and fulfill the expectations of both the board and the residents of District 4. I also have the skills and experience necessary to weigh options and make critical decisions. The timing feels right, and the opportunity is now.

2) Have you previously run for or held elected office?

No, I have not previously run for or held elected office.

3) What connections do you have to communities across District 4, particularly to Reinbeck?

I was born and raised in District 4 and attended Reinbeck Community Schools from kindergarten through high school. In addition to my immediate family, my grandparents and several of my aunts and uncles lived in the surrounding area.

I lived in Reinbeck until I was five years old, when my parents moved our family to the family farm near Morrison. I lived there until moving away for my first job after graduating from the University of Northern Iowa.

For 20 years, I worked primarily in the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City areas as a business analyst and project manager. In 2007, I began working with my father on the family farm, and in 2011, I moved my family back to the farm and into the house where I grew up.

This area has always been home to me, and my roots and relationships throughout District 4 have given me a strong understanding of the people and communities I hope to serve.

4) What values or priorities led you to affiliate with the Republican Party as opposed to the Democratic Party?

My personal beliefs align more closely with the Republican Party platform. I believe limited government is generally more effective, and that increasing government involvement is rarely the best solution. I also believe strongly in individual freedom, paired with personal responsibility and accountability.

I support free-market economics, where buyers and sellers largely determine outcomes, while recognizing the importance of reasonable regulations that provide consumer protections.

In addition, I value law and order, a strong national defense, and secure borders.

5) What are your top two or three priorities if elected?

I will have several focus areas as Supervisor, many of which are closely connected. I have not listed them in a specific priority order because I believe progress can and should be made on multiple fronts simultaneously. My primary priorities include:

-Developing and managing the 2027/2028 county budget responsibly

-Infrastructure improvements and road repair

-Maintaining and improving rural roads

-Increasing transparency and communication with Grundy County residents

-Supporting economic development and growth opportunities within the county

These priorities all contribute to maintaining a strong, well-managed county that serves residents effectively both now and in the future.

6) What issues are you hearing most from voters in Grundy County currently?

I have had some discussions about infrastructure, but by a large margin, the issue mentioned most often is taxes. I think most, if not all, residents are feeling pressure on their household budgets due to rising costs across the board. Property taxes represent a significant expense for many people, and there is growing concern about the impact of potential tax increases.

Residents also want to ensure that county government is managing taxpayer dollars responsibly while continuing to maintain essential services and infrastructure.

7) Why should voters choose you over your opponents in this race?

I am a lifelong Iowan with a background in business, agriculture, and community leadership. I currently manage a local family farming operation and serve as a Washington Township Trustee. Throughout my career, I have focused on practical solutions–improving efficiency, reducing costs, and making smarter use of resources to strengthen the organizations and communities I serve.

I have led projects that saved millions of dollars, improved access to critical information, and supported long-term sustainability in both business and agriculture. Whether managing complex systems or working side-by-side with local teams, I believe in accountability, clear communication, and delivering results.

I am running for the Grundy County Board of Supervisors because I care deeply about our community and want to bring a common-sense, solutions-driven approach to the challenges we face. I support responsible growth, strong local businesses and agriculture, transparent government, and a high quality of life for the people who call this area home.

June 2 primary election

Primaries will be held for the Democrat and Republican parties on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters must declare a party to participate in the primary election. Early voting is already underway. In-person absentee voting began Wednesday, May 13 and will end on Monday, June 1 at 4:30 p.m. The deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail has already passed. Absentee ballots must be received by the close of the polls on Election Day at 8 p.m. to be counted.