by Matt Marquardt –
MASON CITY – Dr. Gary Blodgett, who has been actively involved in Republican Party politics and campaigns in North Iowa for over 45 years, broke party ranks last week, endorsing Democrat Phil Dougherty over the GOP nominee, Chris Watts.
In a flier that was recently mailed to a number of registered Republican party members in Cerro Gordo county, Blodgett quoted John F. Kennedy in saying “Sometimes, party loyalty asks too much. I agree with that.” See the flier here.
“Phil Dougherty is a friend of mine, and a good, honest man. He’s done an excellent job as a Supervisor, and he votes the right way,” Blodgett told NorthIowaToday.
“I admire people who take an active enough interest in community affairs and makes the sacrifices to seek public office,” Blodgett said. “Obviously, Mr. Watts is an energetic man who feels strongly enough about the issues to run for office, and I credit him for that. But Chris still favors expanding the Board of Supervisors, which I oppose. My opposition to Chris Watts isn’t personal; if it was, I’d say so. However, we’re on different sides of an issue which is of great importance to me, and, I believe, and to most Cerro Gordo county voters. He’s also running against Phil Dougherty, whom I want to see re-elected.”
Watts, when reached for comment, said, “I’m not pursuing that,” in reference to expanding the Board of Supervisors.
Watts’ campaign platform lists priorities of economic development, regionalization of services, rebuilding the North Iowa Fairgrounds, term limits, and freezing of Supervisor pay.
Supervisors Jay Urdahl, Bob Amosson and Phil Dougherty approved a 2.5% pay increase for themselves in March. Supervisor pay has gone from $31,500 in 2000, Dougherty’s first year on the board, to $46,454 currently.
Mr. Dougherty has declined thus far to tell NIT about his campaign platform.
See Chris Watts’ campaign flyer, here.
Blodgett, 74, is a conservative who was well-known for his independence while representing Mason City and Clear Lake in the Iowa Legislature, where he served from 1992-2001, as the Assistant Majority Leader. “I worked with the Democrats on a number of issues, particularly relating to education and health care,” the retired lawmaker told NIT.
Blodgett was appointed by President George W. Bush as a federal administrative law Judge in 2001, where he ajudicated legal cases relating to hospital corporations, states vs. the federal government, HMO’s, and Medicare and Medicaid services. He served in both terms of the Bush Administration before retiring to Clear lake in 2008. Prior to serving in public office, Dr. Blodgett practiced orthodontics in Mason City for nearly 30 years, retiring as an orthodontist in 1992.
“The old saying, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’, applies to this race,” Blodgett told NorthIowaToday. “Our Supervisors here work very well together, and they all serve our county very well. So when Phil asked me to endorse him, I readily agreed, because he deserves re-election.”
May be Barts right, only thing Blodgett has to run for now is his bathroom. That should be easy, I hear theres 6 in his house.
We have lived in Mason City since 1999, Dave, and don’t remember Gary Blodgett being on any ballot since then. I see him at the country club, he looks like a retired doc. Don’t think he’s running.
Old boys club….everyone gets greased. I am a registered Republican but will never vote for Blodgett again. He doesn’t know the specifics of what Watts has done for the general public. Shame on him for trying to throw his weight around instead of looking at the facts.
I think Mr. Watts is a good person, but I don’t think he understands the position he is running for. The Bd of Supervisors do not control the Fair Board. Regionalization of services–the county wanted to share assessors, MC turned that down. They have shared county engineers. All other offices are elected–the supervisors don’t have the authority to regionalize those. Wind energy? The supervisors (not the current ones, but when Broers was on) assisted in getting the first wind farm in NI by Venture–the energy companies will put the farms where it is most economical (ie, most wind and lowest cost/acre), so again, supervisors don’t control. Term limits–would need to come from State Legislature. I think Watts believes he is running against Steckman.
Remember this. This is why we are trillions in debt. Phil and the other two boys thought it would be a good idea to spend 100K for a fitness center. And then a few months later Ron Osterholm, director of county public health, told the board at its monthly meeting Friday that only 19 of the 254 county employees have been going to the wellness center and it got moved
MASON CITY — The space in the Cerro Gordo County Courthouse once used as the sheriff’s office will be turned into a fitness center for county employees.
The county Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved the county building and grounds committee’s recommendation for use of the space, which was left vacant after the county law enforcement center opened west of Mason City two years ago.
The county has received a $97,000 Healthy Communities Initiative grant for the fitness center.
The grant comes from the Iowa Department of Public Health, which received the money from the federal government.
The total local match will be $15,000, according to Kelli Huinker, wellness coordinator with the county public health department.
She said this includes $2,000 from the Board of Supervisors, some wellness funds in the county health department budget and donated construction work by county employees.
It’s grant money so it free money, right
VOTE DOUGHTERY he gets the job done and is here for YOU!!!!
I bet Dr. B’s son Todd is involved. He is tight with Urdahl. Probably Jay asked him to get his old man to do this. That is my best guess.
Too much mud slinging today. Dr. Blodgett was my orthodontist and our daughter worked in one of his campaigns. I can tell you he is a very honest man, and him being for Dougherty is okay with me.
I see in this recession the fat cats have steadily been raising their salary about 30% – Flush em all NO RETURNS.
Vote for Chris Watts. Vote for change.
I knew I had seen that photo before
http://www.bigbonelick.com/Lewis-and-Clark-at-Big-Bone-Lick
Tell me I’m wrong
I used to play a lot of tennis with Gary, got to know him pretty well. My guess is what he told NIT is about right. Dougherty asks for his endorsement, and since Urdahl wants to keep his lackey, Gary says, okay, I’ll do this.
Gary Blodgett–What exactly has Phil, or for that matter, any of the others done?
Our roads are in bad shape, we have NO new industry. They have a reputation for short, uninformed meetings–But yet you say they WORK well together? Or are you saying that maybe fresh eyes and fresh blood would rock there little world to much???
I was going to vote for Phil, but with the company he keeps I think I go with Chris.
What is wrong with asking people to vote for someone you want? I live in Mason and will vote for Kyle, but you people are getting all bent out of shape over nothing.
Its time to clean out the good old boys club.
I have known Phil Dougherty for nearly 40 years and can say without any hesitation that I have always found him to be a very honest person. I think its a shame to attack or question someone’s integrity the way some of you have. If you don’t like the way Phil has conducted himself or agree with things he has voted for as your Supervisor, then vote against him and leave it at that.
I also feel its well within Mr. Blodgett’s rights to endorse any person he so chooses. In some way, Mr. Blodgett and Phil Dougherty are bigger people than some of you who have commented on this site. At least they are not letting party affiliation stop them from trying to work together.
did anyone else enlarge the photo to look at Phil’s hair?