MASON CITY – The following information is two emails forwarded to the NIT newsroom Friday morning.
The first email was written by Dean Genth, the Mason City Human Rights Commission Chairperson. Mr. Genth helped lead a celebration this week after a Supreme Court ruling that recognized the rights of same-sex couples.
The second email was written in response to Mr. Genth’s email by Mason City Mayor Eric Bookmeyer, who has been instrumental is dismantling the Human Rights agency.
EMAIL WRITTEN BY DEAN GENTH:
Hello Everyone,
Yesterday was a most monumental and historic day in the annuls of American Civil Rights progress. I have asked Amy Simpson to forward to you the great TV Coverage that was given to the event held in Mason City’s Central Park last eve. Over 50 celebrants gathered to celebrate this Historic Day in U.S. History whereby the U.S. Supreme Court stuck down DOMA (the Defense of Marriage Act) as being unconstitutional. With this sweeping and historic decision, many, many American citizens will be no longer be discriminated against and denied Federal benefits that all other married couples enjoy.
Given the historic significance of this event and the notice that was published in the Globe Gazette along with the broad Facebook postings of the event and the early TV coverage of the event on KIMT’s 5:00 p.m. news, I am extremely disappointed that we did not have attendance by Mason City’s Mayor, any City Council Members or any of the Human Rights Commissioners or any Friends of the Commission at the 7:00 p.m. Celebration. A lot of voters with extended families were able to plainly see which elected officials really have a heart for civil rights of individuals in Mason City.
Dean A. Genth, Chair
Mason City Human Rights Commission
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MAYOR ERIC BOOKMEYER RESPONSE:
From: Eric Bookmeyer
Sent: Friday, June 28, 2013 10:20 AM
Folks,
The author of the previous correspondence displays a lack of tolerance that is not acceptable and raises serious questions about one’s quasi-judicial temperament.
In fact, it is devoid of any awareness of any individual’s personal circumstance and is, in effect, bullying commissioners, friends of the commission, council members and the office of the mayor. However, it is loaded with baseless and harmful accusations.
It is disappointing that its genesis is from a quasi judicial commissioner, let alone the chair of the Human Rights Commission.
It is even more disappointing that the chair used a taxpayer paid administrative assistant to distribute a personal political message.
Although I appreciate the natural exuberance in an event I generally concur with, it is not acceptable to be in a position of influence and lay judgement upon other individual’s personal behavior, let alone their attendance at a political rally. In addition, the Human Rights Commission, and its department, is not to be used as a political operation.
To be clear, although this is a political appointment it is not a political office.
One of the core responsibilities of commissioners is to be respectful of the views of all our citizens and the resources made available to your commission.
In the future, it would be advisable to reserve one’s enthusiasm and criticism of others as you hold such a position.
Warmest regards,
Eric Bookmeyer, Mayor
It is hard to judge a pissing contest when both men are sitting down
“although I appreciate the natural exuberance in an event I generally concur with, it is not acceptable to be in a position of influence and lay judgement upon other individual’s personal behavior, let alone their attendance at a political rally” While not extremely articulate, the Mayor is saying “Go ahead and celebrate this ruling but DON’T criticize anyone (including the Mayor, council,HRC or friends of the commission),that did not come to this rally. I personally applaud this ruling but did not attend this celebration either.
Just more of Bookmeyer showing his true colors. And, I really loved the ” Warmest regards…. Bookmeyer wouldn’t know warm if it bit him in the ass. He is the coldest, most mean-spirited person ( loosely stated), I have encountered in years.
The only way we can stop this crap is get him voted out of office. Potential candidates are beginning to speak up and we must all listen, work hard to get the right people elected. Mason City so deserves the best and we have mediocre at best.
This time your votes are critical… we need to restore decency and morality and a human side to our government. They represent about 1% of the people. What about the remainder of the community???
We need to stand up to the bullies like Bookmeyer and speak the truth, get involved, and don’t back down. WE need leaders that are transparent, no more back room deals before the meetings. There was a time in city politix where honesty and respect for the citizenry was the order of the day.
Since Bookmeyer got into office it has been pathetic. If his wife was not a physician, he could not be our Mayor, he would have to work for a living. As far as being a house husband, that is BS, he takes his kids to daycare. Who is he kidding?? I have heard lots of tales about how he represents himself at the daycare provider. Just about the same as he did at the hair salon!!!!!! A foul-mouthed bully and in front of one of his children.
We deserve better, much better.
Dean you are right on.. keep it up!!!
I don’t know when I’ve seen two more unprofessional emails. Genth for publicizing his hurt feelings or Bookmeyer for making such an ass of himself in response.
The Human Rights Committee members and the Mayor and Council should have had representation at this event, but Genth has the proper venue to chastise them. At their meetings. This public display is just childish and doesn’t say anything good about him.
Bookmeyer on the other hand should have kept his big fat mouth shut and given a phony heartfelt thanks to Genth and an apology for missing the damn event at the next council meeting.
NO class. NO respect.
Bookmeyer will get back at Dean just watch and see
Wow
Is the mayor aware that the Iowa Civil Rights Act protects individuals on the basis of sexual orientation? Is he aware that the city of Mason City has adopted the Civil Rights Act? So essentially the mayor finds Genth’s actions intolerable for celebrating a landmark federal case for a protected class under Iowa law and Mason City law?
Wow
Mr. Bookmeyer should be aware that the Iowa Civil Rights Code protects sexual orientation. That is the law in Iowa. The Mason City Human Rights Commission’s duty is to enforce the Iowa Civil Rights Act.
How is it political that Mr. Genth celebrate a landmark case for rights protected under Iowa law? Would it be political if there was a rally regarding a landmark case and it was about race?
Poor judgement by both. Dean shouldn’t have done this as a board member but rather as an individual. The mayor should have ignored it.
A good example of two dogs trying to hump the same fire hydrant just to claim pissing rights.
Where’s Max Weaver when you need him????? :O
I thought at one time in this country, majoity ruled? Why noy just let the people vote on things like gay marriage? If the majority of people want it, we would have it. Same with abortion.
Is there something newsworthy here?
Bookmeyer seems like a radical far right winger. Most doctors are as well as I’m sure his wife is.
This guy is as far right as many of the low end economic Republicans we have posting here, only Book is a member of the country club.
This is a classic, old fashioned P*ssing Contest. Both men are adults of some standing in this community and should be equally criticized for their childish behavior.
Well now that the supreme court overrules Gods judgement -Sodomy – Where does that leave the rest of us azzholes ??
I do not support gay marriage and will vote accordingly this fall.
Mr. Genth
Just another step down the ladder in the continued moral collapse of our society! Liberalism is winning, and everyday it is harder to look at whats happening to our country. I dont care who or what you partner with, but I am sick of it , you might say, “being forced down our throats” Get out of the spotlight, we have seen enough
Whatever side of the DOMA issue you stand on, and everybody has the right to agree or disagree with the ruling for personal or religious reason….just for a moment mentally throw those reasons out the window. Just look at the tone of the mayors email. It is filled with a bitterness and sour taste on being called out. The line “it is loaded with baseless and harmful accusations is bull…what Mr Genth said was the absolute truth. The mayor, council, or friends of the commission, were not there plain and simple it is not baseless or harmful, it is fact.
What matt touched on using city hall employees to do a task, is in fact pot…kettle…black.
What disturbs me most is that the mayor state he “generally” agrees with the ruling…who is he trying to kid. This issue is black or white there is no grey area, you don’t get to “generally agree with it” that is politisizing at its worst.
Finally it goes to show the venum that can be spewed when the mayor does not like you or agree with you, watch out Mr. Genth the major fights very dirty.
Both sides are at fault here.
Mr. Genth used poor judgement by using taxpayer paid personnel to send out something that is obviously political and Bookmeyer should be settling this in a private forum, not waging a public campaign.
OK-I generally do not agree with our mayor on most issue’s and I do understand and support what Matt is saying. However, part of the message the mayor put out is right. The HRC (Genth)has no business being involved in a political function such as this was in a offical capacity. Besides, 50 people attending out of 26,000 is not what I would call a lot of enthusiasm. The comment about the pot calling the kettle black seems to be accurate.
BOOKMEYER’S OWN WORDS: “It is even more disappointing that the chair used a taxpayer paid administrative assistant to distribute a personal political message.”
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This is the same man, Eric Bookmeyer, who stole postage and office stationary from City Hall – and then commandeered the time and wages of City Hall staff – to throw a “private” party for himself and his cronies at the Mason City Library.
The pot calls the kettle black, so it seems?
https://northiowatoday.wpcomstaging.com/2013/04/04/more-truth-emerges-in-fallout-from-mayors-luncheon/