Gluba was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives in 1970 receiving 58 percent of the vote. He was elected to the Iowa Senate in 1972 with 59 percent of the vote, and re-elected again in 1974 by a 69 percent voter margin.
He was the only Democrat elected to the all Republican Scott County Board of Supervisors in 1976. In 1978, he was elected Chairman of the Scott County board.