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Council to vote on Bookmeyer’s appointment of Steve Palmer to Human Rights Commission

MASON CITY – The Mason City Human Rights Commission on Thursday, June 2, voted unanimously to consent to the mayor’s appointment of Steve Palmer to the commission.  Palmer will face a vote from the Mason City City Council when it meets Tuesday night.

A vote of at least 4-2 will put Palmer on the commission.  A 3-3 vote could then result in Mayor Eric Bookmeyer casting a vote to break that tie.  The legalities of the mayor casting a vote on his own appointments is currently being challenged by some council members.  “If we were in a perfect world, I would think the Mayor would understand what we are all trying to say, out of fairness,”  Max Weaver said.  “Since we don’t live in that perfect world, some of the laws made by our legislators are also very political.  I think the mayor enjoys his power.”

Human Rights Commission member Kathy Loeckle told NorthIowaToday.com that “As to the ethics or legality of the Mayor’s ability to vote on his own appointees, that will be up to the lawyers, the council members and public to decide. In the event he does vote as a tie breaker, the council would most likely have the right to challenge the legality of that decision.”

The commission had been holding out in the hopes that the Mayor would appoint Sandy Servantez to the commission, but Mayor Eric Bookmeyer would not budge.  Kathy Loeckle told NorthIowaToday.com that “Ms. Servantez has not withdrew her application for a place on the Human Rights Commission, she has been denied an interview by the Mayor.  She graciously has decided to stay on as a friend of the commission.”

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