MASON CITY – A local realtor looking to undo the action of the Mason City council in thwarting a hog plant in town now claims people are out to get him as he spearheads a petition drive to revive the issue.
Rick Mathes told the Mason City council at a public listening post May 17 that “shouting and threats and fear and doubt… those are the mechanisms of, I don’t know, co-dependent type of relationships where one must have absolute control and one must give in.” The council and mayor looked on stoically as Mathes attempted to make his point.
“Give me a break!” Mathes shouted into the air, throwing his arms about.
“A small minority of constituents should absolutely not be allowed to set public policy,” Mathes said of those who oppose the Prestage Foods hog plant. He said “5.6% to be exact” of Mason City voters were “making public policy” in convincing the city council to oppose Prestage.
Mathes went on to brag about a petition he is circulating which he claims has 1000 signatures. He then said “policy being dictated by threats of bullying and violence are wrong … I have painted a target on myself” he said, claiming to be the victim of threats. He begged the council “not to enable bullying” by going against Prestage.
Mathes has spearheaded in recent days – along with a Fertile man, Gabe Haugland (who is married to the daughter of the land owners where Prestage wants to build their plant in Mason City) – a petition drive to revive the Prestage Foods development. The online petition has several hundred signatures, but many of them appear to be only first names.
Is this list a joke!? being bored I’ve spent the last 15 minutes randomly picking unusual sounding names that i figured could easily be located using whitepages.com. out of the 12 names i tried, one lives in minnesota, 10 lives outside of cerro gordo and one USED to live in mason city and now resides in nora spring.
not one. NOT ONE of these randomly selected names are currently living in mason city! im strongly starting to suspect that this simply is a list of all pig farmers in the upper midwest rather than mason city tax payers who will be on the hook for millions of TIF-dollars.
Good one Dr Jeff! They WERE out of towners! Loser!
Rick Mathes is just a puppet along with Gabe Hauland.
You all know who is really pulling Mathes & Haugland’s strings on this
Rick..it is sad you are a realtor but are so weak on business values and numbers. Then u post Mr. Lee’s cell number on your Public Page to call 24/7….that was scummy.
Does the 5.6% come from the same people that counted your 1000 first name/out of town’er signatures?
I heard about the posting of the cell phone number. If it’s true, that was a real dirty trick.
many are from out of town too..I seen at least 40 names that ‘I’ knew.
Some people keep saying “vote on it”. We shouldn’t have to. It was already voted down by the elected council members. It needs to be over. Bookmeyer is so shady. I will be glad when election comes up for him. People need to vote him out.
It is true that we shouldn’t have to – they sure were not interested back when they thought it was a “done deal”. But why not take the high route? Frankly, it’s near impossible for the Prestage proponents to win an all out general vote, and they know it. And this is why we need to keep demanding it! Mathes complete lack of interest defuses his bogus claim of representing a “silent Majority”
Run this HOG PLANT LOBBYIST out to town – PAID SNAKE !
The evidence is clear, a few “greedy” people would be making huge profits while causing,
1.) Insurmountable damage to the water, air and soil i.e environment
2.) Property value will tank
3.) Inhumane treatment of animals
4.) Offering non living wages
5.) Crime
6.) Heavy traffic from trucks who are on a time schedule i.e. accidents
7.) New roads
8.) Upgrade water system
9.) Monsanto corn is fed to pigs
10.) New wells
11.) What growth hormones, antibiotics will get into the public water system
12.) Propagates disease
13.) Inhumane working environment
14.) Pork is Unclean
Nothing but scare tactics. No truth in any thing you say here. It is all made up with no study behind it.
Stop telling lies. Truth into lies and lies into truth. The real truth is here:
http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/time/1998/11/23/pigs.html
A discussion of personality type in this article would indicate the majority of people would prefer no change. And, a minority of people would upset the status quo. Just the opposite of what this deceiver proclaims. His claims defy logic.
The majority of people can be classified as SP and SJ’s.
The activists on both extremes fit into the NT and NF categories.
Any group against Prestage would naturally attract the majority of people.
The more honest information is utilized with critical thought, the more emotional appeals, and dishonest descriptions of perceived facts will be used in rants by the pro Prestage minority.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/3/12/845453/-
He will never be the SPEAKER Weaver is or as knowledgeable.
.
Grass roots citizen movements always disrupt the behind the scenes power structure. In for a penny, In for a pound. It may be time to clean house of all the power hungry, control freaks that are coming out of the cracks.
Must be something in it for him and I don’t believe him about the threats and bullying. The people have spoken.
When Pigs Fly… Mason City Realtor Not In Touch With Reality.
mathes move on to something else, it aint gonna happen
…NOW let’s put it to vote to make it fair and square whoever wins wins. Real simple. That’s democracy. Half were made up names or not from here, the next 1/4 were only first names and about a dozen legit people in this town. Put it to vote put it to rest. No backsliding or changing minds or lying.
My name was on it and i didnt sign anything!
Truth into lies and lies into truth. Huge red flag warning signs playing the victim. Thank you, Gabe and Rick for showing us a few of your personality traits.
Which ones match up with traits discussed in these articles?
http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/07/the-startling-accuracy-of-referring-to-politicians-as-psychopaths/260517/
http://www1.cbn.com/marriage/12-traits-of-an-abuser
http://narcissisticbehavior.net/narcissistic-victim-syndrome-what-the-heck-is-that/
http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/07/the-startling-accuracy-of-referring-to-politicians-as-psychopaths/260517/
http://www1.cbn.com/marriage/12-traits-of-an-abuser
http://narcissisticbehavior.net/narcissistic-victim-syndrome-what-the-heck-is-that/
http://www.halcyon.com/jmashmun/npd/traits.html
Can we add Robin Anderson to the list?
http://www.manipulative-people.com/tag/character-disturbance/
Truth into lies and lies into truth. Huge red flag warning signs playing the victim. Thank you, Gabe and Rick for showing us a few of your personality traits. Which ones match up with traits discussed in these articles?
http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/07/the-startling-accuracy-of-referring-to-politicians-as-psychopaths/260517/
http://www1.cbn.com/marriage/12-traits-of-an-abuser
http://narcissisticbehavior.net/narcissistic-victim-syndrome-what-the-heck-is-that/
Turning truth into lies and lies into truth. Typical attack campaign tactics. Huge red flag warning signals of your playing the victim. Thank you, Gabe and Rick for showing us a few of your personality traits. How closely do those traits match with traits discussed in these articles?
http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/07/the-startling-accuracy-of-referring-to-politicians-as-psychopaths/260517/
http://www1.cbn.com/marriage/12-traits-of-an-abuser
http://narcissisticbehavior.net/narcissistic-victim-syndrome-what-the-heck-is-that/
Move your arms a little faster and fly away. A small minority of constituents, “the elite”, usually IS what’s running this town for their own agendas and that’s the problem in MC. Now that the other constituents got together and made their voices heard, you don’t like it. That’s the way democracy is suppose to work, the majority spoke and was finally listened to.
It really doesn’t matter, even if Bill would change his vote they won’t be coming here.
Sounds like I’m wrong.
This video promo was no good, he ran out of time and got lost in his words at the end. Bookie expects promos to be just 5 minutes and you better have good material to build the heat up for the upcoming matches.
Good article Matt. Here’s the link for your readers to verify the 1000 plus signatures. 😉 http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/hear-us-too-mason-city
You’re welcome Gabe.
Greedy selfish men trying hard to disguise their greed with lofty terms. Pretty transparent, pretty sad.
After reading this I see can see who the kook is Ron Prestage was talking about.
I doubt that most of the people that would get hired at the hog plant will have any desire to buy a house in this area. First of all, they won’t be able to afford one. What will happen though, and Mr. Mathes knows it, is that most of the workers will be looking to rent. And, he knows that the kind of houses they will rent will be government subsidized. Which means that tax payers will get to help pay the rent.
The vote has been taken and anyone that had an opinion on this issue had 3 council meeting to have their thoughts heard. Next time there is an important issue in front of the council maybe people will get involved early if not that’s on them. I think Rick is stretching the truth when it comes to him being bullied. Everyone has a right to their own opinion even if its not what the Mathes family wants.
We’ve heard the same shit from you every time. Please. Go Arms!
No one has threated any violence. So dramatic. Please. If you are so interested in democratic ways start using them in your life. Mason has nothing because they have no vision. If they, (you) would travel they would see a progressive great place to hang does NOT have hogs close enough to smell. Get things everyone wants! It’s not hard to figure out.
I just hope that this latest stirrup isn’t going to harm our neighborly relations more than the Prestage debacle already has 🙁
Yes we mean YOU Rick
Give US a break!
A small minority should absolutely not be allowed to decide ANYTHING. Sorry Rick but that’s what was happening. You know that. Why is it okay for that small minority of our Mayor and council to decide? As a friend your credibility is weak by this behavior and real close to being quite a baby with out much FACT. Just your dreams are in your brain. Let’s all remember that about you.
If you’re so afraid, sit down, shut up, and people will go back to forgetting who you are. As it is, I’m probably one of thousands who watched you and your dad acting giddy that you’d make so much money selling houses, while at the same time selling out your neighbors. You didn’t get your way, get over it and quit bringing it up if you’re so afraid! Now you’ve alienated most of the town, and I for one will never buy a house from you, or one you’ve listed. Congratulations. You did this to yourself.
A small minority? Try again Mathes. If you want to talk small minorities talk with your beloved Mayor and 3 council people who wanted it your way 4 count em 4 total Remember it was up to them not we the people. Blame them about your problem You are kind of dumb aren’t you? Insert arms throwing about here.
,.
Haha is he a mason? He’s doing the mason in distress signal!
Hang in there Rick… this is just the typical Mason City ass hats trying to bully you…. Keep up the good work!
How very mature of you. As far as Rick keeping up the good work? Yeah. Definitely continue on with your huge tantrum and I’m certain it’ll get you exactly what you want. Oh, wait, that ISN’T massive loss of business and complete loss of any respect? Hmm… Maybe it won’t get you EXACTLY what you want after all.
Gee, I wonder who the realtor is for Mr. Haugland’s father in law?
They are not using a realtor. Prestage is dealing directly with the Nicholas family. That is a fact and you can find that in all the paperwork for the agreement.
This IS hilarious! No one is OUT to get him are you kidding. The worst that could happen is someone set you straight and tell you to quit being such an IRK! If you go that far saying you are a TARGET think of the people WHO REALLY speak up all the time. Most have never even heard of your ass until this. Who’s that irk talking?
For real calm down no body cares about your opinion of this enough to do anything except maybe get a nice pork sandwich some place and laugh about you.