BOONE, Iowa—With experience from actively serving as a Boone County Supervisor and the current Board Chair, Erich Kretzinger has announced his run for reelection in 2024.
In addition to gaining deep understanding of the processes and responsibilities, Kretzinger reports many personal priorities and commitments have been fulfilled during his first term.
- A new user-friendly County website, combined with the addition of social media presence, has increased communication and transparency with the public. He personally reports through a weekly fact-based recap of the board of supervisors meetings, shared to his public social media page. Two local newspapers also print these reports with permission.
- Increased cooperation and communication with city governments across Boone County has resulted in shared cost savings along with coordination of efforts for mutual benefit.
- New emphasis on economic development has resulted in businesses investing many millions of dollars locating and expanding in Boone County, creating jobs and bringing down the tax burden for all. On property taxes, Boone County currently has the fourth lowest tax levy rate of 99 counties in Iowa.
- A long-standing plan to consolidate two Secondary Roads maintenance sheds into one was scrutinized and exchanged for a plan that will replace the three existing sheds in Boone, Madrid and Ogden, better meeting requirements while avoiding an estimated $12 million in new taxpayer debt.
In addition to directly serving his constituents, Kretzinger has also represented Boone County on the following boards and commissions: Central Iowa Workforce Development, Aging Resources of Central Iowa, Central Iowa Community Services, Boone/Dallas County DECAT, Ogden Legacy, Boone County Emergency Management, Boone County 911 Service, Boone County Trails Advisory, and the Lowery Foundation.
Additional volunteer service includes the Habitat for Humanity of Iowa Board of Directors, Central Iowa Regional Housing Authority Governing Board and many years serving on the Augustana Lutheran Church Council, with multiple terms as Congregation President.
A Jefferson native and graduate of the University of Iowa College of Business, Kretzinger moved to Boone in 1987, accepting the position of Marketing and Investment Officer at Citizens National Bank. In time he would transition to owning and managing Phillips Office Supply, later renamed The Home Office, an office products and commercial printing business in downtown Boone.
Kretzinger would later start a new business, Select Office Systems, that through growth and strategic acquisitions came to serve one-third of Iowa with office electronics. After eleven years he sold the company at an opportune point and took time to pursue personal interests, including biking, fishing and enjoying time with his wife and school-aged children.
Eighteen months after, Kretzinger would be named the first executive director at what is today Heart of Iowa Habitat for Humanity, a Christian housing ministry partnering with low and moderate-income families to build and repair homes across Boone, Greene and Guthrie Counties.
Retiring in 2019 after more than 30 years owning, building and leading local enterprises, but finding himself not yet fully ready, Kretzinger agreed to run for and was elected a Boone County Supervisor in 2020.
In 2022, Kretzinger earned the distinction of being named Boone County’s first Certified Iowa County Supervisor, awarded by the Iowa State Association of County Supervisors following completion of an advanced professional curriculum.
“I’m committed to building on what has already been accomplished with the highly customer-focused team at Boone County,” Kretzinger offered. “I invite the community to continue having faith in my experience, leadership, transparency and integrity by reelecting me a Boone County Supervisor.”
Erich Kretzinger will run in the Republican Party primary on June 4, 2024. Two of three supervisor seats are open this election cycle.
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Erich and Kari make their home today in rural Boone County, where they enjoy outdoor recreation and making new friends in surrounding communities. With four pre-school age grandchildren and their parents living close by and always ready for fun and attention, the Kretzingers are thankful for their many blessings.