SIOUX CITY – The Iowa League of Cities created the Rhonda Wood Smith Award to recognize exemplary work of young city officials and those new to city government. The intent of the award is to encourage and affirm participation in local government by young people who may make greater sacrifice for public service due to significant career and family commitments.
Mason City Mayor Eric Bookmeyer is the 2012 recipient of the Rhonda Wood Smith Award by the Iowa League of Cities. The award was presented to Mayor Bookmeyer at the League’s Annual Conference & Exhibit held in Sioux City September 26-28.
Four key criteria were used as the basis for evaluation during the selection process.
1. Innovation. The degree to which the individual demonstrates originality in approach or application in solving a community problem. This could be utilization of technology or application of theory and practice in a novel way.He worked to create a new program to assist commercial businesses so they can grow and expand. The project partnered with the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center to run the program. The program rebates a portion of their property taxes to pay for new employees or purchases to expand their business. The program provides opportunities for small businesses that have not been available in the past.
2. Bold leadership. The degree to which the individual demonstrates leadership in overcoming obstacles and taking risks in order to better the community.Eric supported 100% Mason City’s effort to become a Blue Zones Demonstration site community. He rallied community support for the project. We were successful in being chosen as one of four sites in Iowa for this program. He was also part ofthe group that led the charge to conduct our Vision Iowa grant effort. His personal prior involvement to being Mayor had an impact on this project at a grass roots level.
3. Commitment. The degree to which the individual demonstrates commitment tothe community and the state.Many hours spent discussing items with Council members to develop solutions to problems in our City. Eric currently serves on the Legislative Policy Board of theIowa League of Cities. He stresses the importance of decorum at our Council meetings to help provide a good positive image of our community. His dedicationto the community is present every day he comes to work as he challenges us in new ways to make our community better.
4. Sacrifice. The degree to which the individual gives time and talent to better the community.He commits many hours to this position which causes time away from his two young children. He is a quality person that gives of his talent and time. He volunteers for many projects and lends support to countless others.
Reaction from Mayor Bookmeyer:
“I am humbled and honored to receive this award from my peers and colleagues.This award is really a reflection of the smart goal-oriented team, elected and staff,we have surrounding us inside city government and our partners within Mason City. I love my wife… I can’t believe she kept this secret for so long. I was stunned when I realized they were talking about our accomplishments. She didn’t even tell Anders or Elsa… they would have told me.”
Eric is married and father to a son, age 5, and a daughter, age 2.
Eric attended Luther College receiving a BS degree in Biology. Eric worked for the Iowa DNR for a period after college but decided to return to school. He attended St. Ambrose University receiving a MBA at the completion of his schooling. Eric owned a small business for a period of time but his most recent work experience was as an executive recruitment specialist in the door and window industry.
Mayor Bookmeyer was nominated by Mason City City Administrator Brent Trout.
25 thoughts on “Mayor Bookmeyer Receives Award from Iowa League of Cities”
..look at his face and RUNNNNNNN
awards for poor jobs done…wow..this town IS truly LOST.
Congratulations to our mayor! This is recognition for MC as well as the mayor. They will never admit that some good things are happening in MC & it is because of the leadership of the mayor & council. The mayor & council work together. The majority of the bloggers on here want controversy and dissension. But that is what NIT wants so this provides the venue for them to vent. Again, congratulations Mayor Bookmeyer & Mason City.
I want to add my congrats also. Not everyone will sit in the hot seat. Mason City going forward, hopefully still for the better.
“Mason City going forward, hopefully still for the better.”
Yes, all the while ignoring basics that will do more good for the community than whitewash.
Pretty Statues – translation: we are willing to blow money on things that make such little impact in the daily lives of all citizens.
Outsourcing of jobs – translation: we really don’t value our employees.
Enforcement of City code – translation: except if it offends our friends and associates.
Decorum at meetings – translation: overtly limit a citizens constitutional right to openly question the actions of those elected to govern them. (God forbid the Founders had to deal with such limitations as they debated the establishment of our country – they were at best, raucous!).
This is but a few items from a long laundry list. And for it, we give awards? Take off your blinders.
I would describe the Mayor’s seat as piss-warm, not hot. Accidents sometimes happen when you drink that much.
“The majority of the bloggers on here want controversy and dissension.”
No, I want a nice community to live in, where all levels of citizens needs are met. It cannot get more simple than that. Whitewash and putting the cart before the horse has never worked in improving a community. Change in attitudes, attracting employers, and maintaining a good quality of life is the avenue to that end.
“But that is what NIT wants so this provides the venue for them to vent.”
NIT engages citizens, by allowing comments that are not limited in size or scope. Many of us came here because of the chilling effect other venues forced upon people exercising their right to speak their opinions (within reason and civility).
You may or may not agree with some things said here, but it is better to have such a place, than not in a free country.
Why doesn’t his wife just help him find a suitcoat that fits right?
Of course Trout nominated him. He wants to make sure he keeps his $146,000 a year job so he will do whatever it takes. What a joke! Bookmeyer is a joke as a mayor! Cares about Mason City and the taxpayers? Look how he treats the taxpayers. He won’t let them talk at the council meetings unless they follow a certain criteria and only for 5 minutes. Let’s see, the taxpayers pay his wages and he tells them what they can and can’t do? The town should have gone to that meeting and told the mayor they would get up and talk about what they want as long as they want and there is nothing he can do about it. He riles the town up by wanting to privitize the garbage pick up and get rid of the city workers, just because, he does nothing to try and help bring in jobs to Mason City, he makes sure he gets all people on the council that will agree with him and that will push through all of his ideas. The list could go on and on. He is arrogant and has insulted people over the years and pushes people around besides being “drunk in public” like Ron White, only Ron White is funny and has a personality! I could go on and on, but I will run out of room. Congratulations to Mason City, but Bookmeyer? Please. They must have been desperate for a recipient of this award or else they are smoking pot!
Mason City is never big into going to these “League” meetings unless they get an award.
This may just bolster his chances for a second term as mayor of Mason City. They don’t give this award out to just anyone. After all, he is the elected leader of Mason City. He did win by an overwhelming margin. He is what Mason City is all about….right?
WOW !! An executive recruitment specialist in the door and window industry. You’d think that would beat the hell out of “dopey mayor of river city”.
Afterall, even Obama “won” a Noble Peace Prize, so I guess anything is possible.
I did not realize Mayor Bookmeyer had an MBA or that he was a Luther grad. Thank you for the background information.
I say, each to their own. Lots of snipers from the weeds in here. I say, if you think you can make a difference, then you run for mayor next time around. It’s easy to sit and snipe at others. Evidentially the only people who think ill of our mayor, read this site. JMHO. Your mother taught you that if you can’t say anything good about someone then you should keep quiet.
Ditto FREE advice.
If you ever need a mega dose of negativity just read the daily comments to most news items.
NIT is an excellent alternative source of local information and they have a provocative format that I find refreshing.
Its just too bad that many bloggers contribute little or nothing to the quality of the read.
But that’s freedom of speech and Im just sayin….
What a porker. The only thing bigger than his belly is his ego. He should be on the biggest looser.
lern how to spel looser
So let me get this straight?
We have a mayor who really doesn’t care about the people in the community.
We have a mayor who wastes tax dollars on remodeling city hall and purchasing horrible statues to put around downtown where his city hall is located.
We have a mayor who is supposedly involved in the Blue Zones project ( looking at him I find that hard to believe ).
We have a mayor who was trying to outsource city employees through the sanitation department.
And we have a mayor that doesn’t stand a chance at another run at office.
And he gets a reward???????????????
WTH
He looks like he is holding his breath. Maybe he is afraid he is going to pop a few buttons.
That is not the award I would give him…
I agree you’ve got to be kidding me???
And I’m sure he will be celebrating at the bar!
Is the misspelling of the word Leauge [sic] in the headline intended to disparage the award and the recipient?
I’m also wondering about the severe dragging of the feet on this one. Stands out like a sore thumb where we have all the perfectionists in here.
You have got to be kidding me.