Des Moines – March 2 – Governor Terry E. Branstad has announced the appointment of Sandy Blodgett to to a full, six-year term on the Iowa Judicial Qualifications Commission, it was announced yesterday in Des Moines. Blodgett, who lives in Clear Lake, was initially appointed in 2011 to fill an unexpired term, in one of the Governor’s first appointments made of a north Iowan in his present term of office.
According to its website, the seven-member Iowa JQC is the government entity responsible for evaluating and investigating allegations of misconduct by Iowa Judges, Magistrates, and Court employees. The Iowa Supreme Court, which is empowered to discipline, remove, or retire a judicial officer for good cause, can only do so upon the application of the JQC. The Court cannot discipline, retire, or remove any judicial officer without first receiving a public report from the Judicial Qualifications Commission. JQC members serve six- year terms, and must be confirmed by the Iowa Senate following nomination by the Governor.
Mrs. Blodgett has been active in Republican politics since 1968, and had previously served in 1985-89 on the Governor’s Judicial Nominations Board, as well as on the Iowa Commission on the Status of Women, from 1989 to 1993. She also managed the Mason City district office of U.S. Representative Fred Grandy from 1987-93, and served as a Legislative Clerk to her husband, retired Iowa lawmaker Gary B. Blodgett, from 1993 to 2001. Dr. Gary Blodgett served four terms as Assistant Majority Leader in the Iowa House of Representatives, representing Mason City, Clear Lake, Ventura, and other north Iowa communities. From 2002 to 2007, Mrs. Blodgett served as a volunteer in the White House office of former First Lady Laura Bush, assisting Mrs. Bush with her correspondence.
Sandy Blodgett lived in Mason City until 1995, and was active in numerous local charitable endeavors, and served on the Board of Directors of Mercy/North Iowa, Inc. Mrs. Blodgett was also a director of Mercy”s parent corporation, which is based in the state of Michigan.
The Real Democrat is right. For decades, Dr. Blodgett has been buying political jobs and appointments for himself, his wife, and his adult children. He also bought Jay Urdahl his cushy job, raises Jay’s campaign funds, and threw his money around to defeat Mr. Watts. This is indeed troubling.
@ NIT reader: can you be more specific, please?
Okay you people you better understand that Chris Watt wanted to make 2 more Supervisors. That would have cost lots of our money, I am glad Dr. Blodgett stopped it from happening. No, I don’t like Jay Urdal but if Gary Blodgett does then he must not be all that bad. This is my opinion.
OK Todd, got ya.
@ Bodacious, I am not Todd. Sorry to disappoint you.
To bad you weren’t smart enough to see the true saving’s and benefits of Watts’s plan. I took the time to call him and discuss. Totally makes sense and at NO extra cost like Jay and Blodgett-along with their buddy Skipper have tried to make people believe.
Do your homework too!
JC @ MC is right, simple minds can be easily influenced. Specially if they are greedy ones. Gary Blodgett has that all figured out we just get pay for it.
Urdahl and them just give themselfs a raise today this is wrong. I am tired of Gary Blodgett throwing his money around it cost us all money sticking us with these greedy zeros.
Okay somebody tell me how and why this supposebly right wing republican Blodgett got Urdahl and Dougherty elected and keeps them in? I have heard and read this but nobody ever tells the facts.
Sarah: Doc Blodgett likes to control things, including people. He hand-picked Nelson Crabb for Clear Lake mayor, and Bob Amosson for our Supervisor. He bankrolled Jay Urdahl into office, and he puts up and raises the money to keep him there. What Buck referred to is correct. Last fall, Gary Blodgett flooded Phil Dougherty’s district with mailings that he paid for, to registered Republican voters, urging his fellow Republicans to vote against the GOP nominee, Chris Watts. As long as this fanatical fascist is around, Cerro Gordo county will be run by the rich, and for the rich. His wife may be a nice lady, but Gary Blodgett is all about control.
You pegged this pretty good!
Wierd how simple minds can be so influenced
Gary Blodgett helped Dougherty win for the same reason he raises big bucks for that other fake Democrat Urdahl. Jay and Phil are in Blodgett’s pocket, he makes sure they stay in. Gary is why, we got 3 Republican Supervisers.
Yes, brick, this is Todd Blodgett’s mother. I don’t think Todd blogs on here, just the Globb. My wife says Mrs. Blodgett is the real brains in the Blodgett family! Kidding aside, Sandy is a classy lady.
Than she should have been smart enough to discourage her husband from crossing party lines and endorsing the County Supervisors for re-election. All he did was endorse more of the same. WE need to be moving forward. That’s one reason term limits are so important. Stagnation in politics is the death of us all!
Disagree, Buck. I know Dr. Blodgett, he opposed Watts because Chris promoted expanding the Board of Supervisors. Gary knew two more Supervisors would cost at least $400,000 additional in just the first term. Watts may have ran as a republican, but he’s not really one.
Wow, just wanted to say how fantastic your mom and dad look Todd. They’ve done a marvelous job of taking care of themselves all these years!
My folks are still alive as well and the same age.
Great lady! She’ll do a fine job!
This is Todd’s mother, correct?