Career
Ehrler worked for the United States Postal Service for 37 years and served in the United States Army and Army Reserve, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. Ehrler was appointed Jefferson County Judge/Executive by Governor Martha Layne Collins on December 21, 1984 to fill the vacancy left by Mitch McConnell after McConnell"s election to the United States Senate. Ehrler served in that post until January 6, 1986.
He did not seek election to a second term, opting instead to run - successfully - for Secretary of State in 1987, the year after he left office.