Merlin Bartz (born March 16, 1961) was the Iowa State Senator from the 6th District, elected in 2008 for just one term. A Republican, he sat on the Appropriations, Human Resources, Natural Resources, and Ways and Means committees. He was the ranking member on the Administration and Regulation Appropriations Subcommittee.Bartz lost his reelection bid in 2012 in a race where there were two incumbents redistricted together.