Longtime educator, farmer, and Cass County Supervisor Steve Baier has announced his candidacy for Iowa Senate District 9, the seat currently held by Senator Tom Shipley, who will not seek re-election.
A native of Cass County, Baier grew up in Noble Township and graduated from Griswold High School before attending Westmar College. After college, he and his wife Barb moved to North Carolina, where both worked as teachers while Beyer pursued graduate studies at Duke University. He later earned an Educational Specialist degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Duke.
During their eight years in North Carolina, the couple witnessed major changes in the state’s education system, including the expansion of public kindergarten programs and efforts to integrate schools during the 1970s.
In 1980, Baier and his family returned to Iowa after the passing of Barb’s mother. The move allowed their young children to grow up closer to extended family. Around that time, Baier purchased part of his grandfather’s farm and began balancing farming with teaching and coaching.
His involvement in public service began with the Griswold School Board, where he served 11 years while teaching at Atlantic High School. During that time, he worked alongside Tom Shipley, who later became the state senator for the district.
He also discussed the ongoing debate surrounding property taxes and government services. While many property owners have seen significant increases in property taxes, Baier said local governments are also facing rapidly rising costs.
For example, he noted the cost of building bridges in Cass County has increased by about 40 percent in recent years.
“If the legislature puts a hard cap on property taxes, services are going to have to be cut somewhere,” Baier said. “You can’t maintain roads, bridges, and services without the funding to do it.”
He believes future solutions will require balance, as well as potential efficiency improvements through technology and shared services.
Baier also pointed to his experience with online education programs such as Iowa Learning Online, where he helped teach science classes remotely to students in districts that could not find qualified teachers. Looking ahead, Baier plans to travel throughout Senate District 9 to meet with residents and learn more about their concerns. The district includes Cass, Montgomery, Page, Taylor, Adams, Ringgold, and most of Union County.
He encouraged voters to reach out to him directly, noting his contact information is available on the Cass County Board of Supervisors website.
“I’m not going to assume anything,” Baier said. “I want to hear what people’s concerns are and learn what’s on their minds.”
Leave a Reply
Your email is safe with us.