(Noble) Last Week, Cass County Supervisor Steve Baier announced he will run for the Iowa Senate District 9 seat following the retirement of Republican Senator Tom Shipley of Nodaway.
Baier announced a press release on March 4, saying he is motivated by many of the same reasons that inspired Shipley to serve — being a strong voice for rural counties. He tells KSOM/KS95 News that one of his top priorities is standing up for agriculture and making sure rural communities have strong representation in the state senate.
Another key focus for Baier is addressing the challenges facing rural school districts. With more than 25 years of experience as a chemistry and physics teacher, Baier says he understands the issues educators and students face and wants to work toward solutions that support rural education. Baier also points to his experience in local government as an important part of his campaign. As chair of the Cass County Board of Supervisors, he says he has spent years working on local issues and believes that hands-on experience will help him represent communities effectively at the state level.
One issue currently drawing attention at the State Capitol is the proposed property tax reform legislation. Senate Republicans have proposed a bill that would cap city and county revenue growth between two and five percent, depending on inflation. The proposal would also replace Iowa’s rollback system with a 50 percent homestead tax exemption on properties valued up to $350,000, along with several other changes.
Baier says he is concerned about the possibility of a hard cap on local government revenue, noting that legislation advancing through the Iowa House would limit how much cities and counties can increase their budgets. He says local governments face many variables when it comes to costs, including purchasing materials and hiring staff needed to provide services.
Baier says those limits could affect rural residents in several ways. He notes that people could end up driving 60 to 70 miles to renew a driver’s license or experience declining road conditions near their homes if local governments lack the funding needed to maintain services. He says the proposal could also create financial pressure that pushes smaller communities toward consolidation.
Baier says he has been proud to serve the community as a county supervisor and has enjoyed working to solve local problems. He says he wants to bring that same approach to the Iowa Senate by tackling statewide issues and continuing to advocate for small towns and rural areas.
In addition to his role as a supervisor, Baier serves as president of the Noble Initiative Foundation, which supports local families and childcare initiatives. The foundation helped develop a $3 million childcare center in Griswold.
Baier also continues to farm the land his grandfather purchased in 1943. He has been active in local church leadership, previously serving at Noble United Methodist Church. He and his wife now attend the United Church of Hope in Elliott.
Iowa Senate District 9 includes Cass, Montgomery, Adams, Taylor, Page, and Ringgold counties, along with a large portion of Union County.
Primary elections in Iowa are scheduled for June 2.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————–
The entire interview with Steve Baier is posted below:
(Photo provided by District #18 Representative Tom Moore, who is standing on the far right alongside Barb and Steve Baier on the day Steve submitted his paperwork.)
