DES MOINES – A.J. Spiker won re-election as chairman of the Republican Party today.
Spiker, a realtor from Ames, was re-elected by a vote of 13-5 board votes from the State Central Committee over Bill Schickel of Mason City, the party’s co-chairman. Schickel runs a radio station in Mason City.
One of Schickel’s campaign promises was “To fight for strong Republican victories in elections on all levels across Iowa,” but some had questioned how effective of a leader Schickel would be as he had failed to support a lone, local Republican, Chris Watts, in his run for Cerro Gordo county supervisor this past election cycle. Watts lost the election to Democrat Phil Dougherty.
The board also elected David Fischer as Co-Chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa. Fischer received 11 of the 18 votes from the State Central Committee.
John Kabitzke was elected treasurer, unopposed and Mark Doland was elected secretary, unopposed.
Speculation as to what Schickel’s next move will be is now the talk in Mason City. Some are saying he may take a run at mayor, a seat that will be up for grabs in the coming November city elections.
19 thoughts on “Schickel loses bid for Iowa GOP Chair; will he run for mayor?”
Mr. Schickel should run for at-large council seat or mayor. He would easily beat either of the two wanna-be bullies that hold those seats.
Gary Blodgett can support whoever he wants, Vince. What I object to is he’s helped elect dunces like Dougherty, suck-ups like Urdahl, and quasi-fascists like Crabb and Amosson. The doc’s desire to control things hurts anyone who isn’t wealthy.
So you guys got a problem with Blodgett making sure the right canidates get elected, oh boo-hoo. Its sour grapes and your sore losers if you ask me.
I am from Clear Lake, where Gary Blodgett also got Mayor Crabb elected, and Bob Amosson. This retired fascist doc wanted those neanderthals in, and he made sure they won. These right-wing power plays must end.
No way Gary Blodgett will help Schickel, he likes Bookmeyer. I seen Doc and Bookie have lunch at Hardees last year, they must of been at the table for an hour or better.
Maybe Billy boy will run for mayor and get his pal Gary Blodgett to bankroll the campaign. With Urdahl and Dougherty in his pocket old doc might as well put Schickel under his thumb.
We need a full time Mayor and not the system we have in place. I think Brent is doing a great job but is restricted because he has to answer to the Mayor and has his hands tied. Brent Trout for Mayor and no City Administrator.
This is where Brent has been bamboozled by the great and powerful Bookmeyer. He does not have to take any orders from the mayor. He works for the council. Only they can fire him, it would take 4 votes, and the mayor can’t cast one. Why Mr. Trout allows Bookmeyer to lead him around like a poodle on a leash is anyone’s guess.
Maybe they are in love. Has anyone looked into that? Weren’t they seen hugging in a bar once?
Johnny, Frannie Mae is right. Better get your facts straight. Trout works for the council. Not the mayor. Wrong again.
My name says it all. You can’t really be serious can you???? Brent for Mayor? The same guy who kept 10 families wondering about their future because he couldn’t get the sanitation situation figured out in eight months, but was suddenly able to do it in two days?? Give me a break…..
Bill is a political wannabe who was out classed at the state level by Fisher and Spiker, two of the GOPs finest. He stumbled in his leadership role and the price he paid was this no confidence vote. However, we havent seen the last of him.
Whoa whoa whoa. Are you really saying the GOP has anyone fine? Hahahahahahaa that’s a laugher.
He said “finest.” It’s a relative term.
I would support Bill for Mayor!!! I myself have begged him to run. We need someone that has a desire to do what is best for Mason City as a whole and not just for the select few.
Who are you trying to shit?
He was a joke as Mayor before.
Almost anyone would be better than who we have now!
I’d love to see him as the Mayor of Mason City!
what gets me is that for how many years did we have a full time mayor and about 20 years ago the position was cut to part-time but added an administrator and our population was declining then and still is. We are getting to be a smaller city, but still wants to wear big boy pants. We have dug a huge hole. Good day.