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Op-ed: Mayor Eric Bookmeyer uses “power of the Mayor’s office in a tortuous manner”

MAYOR BOOKMEYER REVIEW

Op-Ed by Otis Lewis

Mayor Bookmeyer himself is guilty of discrimination and using the power of the Mayor’s office in a tortuous manner. This is a clear violation of the law.  No elected official is allowed to use the power of his office in this manner and charges should be brought against him.  Mayor Bookmeyer has shown a pattern, using the power of the Mayor’s office to cause harm to others since he has taken office, and I believe is provable in a court of law.  Any Mayor can be removed from office when found guilty of these charges in district court.  The people of Mason City need to bring these charges against Mayor Bookmeyer!

There have been several others Mayor Bookmeyer has not reappointed or appointed that were more than qualified to serve on the Human Rights Commission over the last 3 years. This has to have been disruptive to the work of the Human Rights Commission

Ms. Gaines is not the first lady or commissioner that Mayor Bookmeyer has mistreated without cause.

A couple of years ago long time Chairwoman of the Human Rights Commission, Kathy Loeckle, was also not re-appointed.  At the time Mayor Bookmeyer said she was too old and wanted younger people on the commission.

He also refused to appoint Sandy Servantez, another qualified individual, when her name was submitted by the Human Rights Commission for appointment.  There have been others.

When you add up all the mayhem he has caused within the Human Rights Commission it is clearly evident that Mayor Bookmeyer is out to harm the Human Rights Commission.

A REVIEW OF THE MAYOR’s JOB DESCRIPTION IS IN ORDER

Per:  Mason City Code:

1-7-1: MAYORS QUALIFICATIONS AND DUTIES

The Mayor shall be elected at large and shall be the presiding officer of the City Council and shall have and exercise all powers and duties conferred upon him by chapter 372.14, Code of Iowa, and the provisions of this Code. (Ord. 96-26, 12-17-1996)

1-7-2: MAYOR, SUPERVISION OF OFFICERS

(Rep. by Ord. 96-26, 12-17-1996)  The Mayor’s Supervisory duties were repealed by ordinance and given to the City Administrator.

Now look at city code regarding the City Administrator:  this has been abbreviated.

ARTICLE C.CITY ADMINISTRATOR/CITY CLERK

1-8C-3: ADMINISTRATION AND DUTIES:  The city administrator/city clerk shall be the chief administrative officer of the city and shall be responsible to the mayor and city council for the proper administration of all affairs of the city. All departments of the city, except as otherwise provided by ordinance, shall be responsible to the administrator/clerk. The duties of the administrator/clerk shall be as follows: (Ord. 97-29, 11-18-19

In part:

J.-Cooperate with any administrative agency, board or commission of the city and act as technical advisor when applying for grants to enable the mayor, city council, boards and commissions to enhance their funding.

In conclusion:

Mason City has a Part Time Mayor who has overstepped his boundaries and as far as I am concerned guilty of misusing the power of the office of Mayor in a harmful and tortuous manor to cause harm to the Mason City Human Rights Commission.

It is obvious what Mayor Bookmeyer is up to.  The latest demand for a report from Ms. Gaines the Mayor requested and bellyaching about, is nothing more than a smoke screen to carry out his personal agenda of harming the Human Rights Commission.  The Human Rights Commission voted to table the report for further study before submitting it.   If some kind of report was needed it should have been requested by the City Administrator.  This falls under his job duties not the Mayor’s.

It is time for our local leaders, (i.e.) News Media, Chamber Of Commerce, Doctors, Lawyers, Businessman, and Good Citizens that want a decent city and a government free of discrimination to step forward and speak out to put an end to the Mayor’s harassment of the Mason City Human Rights Commission!

In the absence of any leaders stepping forward, then the citizens should form a Citizens Committee, collect funds, hire an attorney, and bring formal charges against the Mayor in District Court per State Code.

PS:  I will throw in $100.00

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