MASON CITY – Matt Dodge, a Mason City Human Rights Commissioner, blasted Chairman Dean Genth Thursday for sending an email weeks ago that he didn’t like.
Mr. Dodge, also one of the city’s largest landlords and an insurance salesman, let Chairman Dean Genth have a piece of his mind at Thursday’s regular meeting of the Mason City Human Rights Commission, saying that en email sent by Genth in late June was “a burr underneath my saddle”.
Mr. Genth sent an email to other Human Rights Commissioners as well as other city hall officials in which he criticized them for not attending a rally in Mason City’s Central Park in celebration of a Supreme Court ruling that largely upheld the practice of allowing same sex marriages.
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,” Mr. Genth wrote. “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.”
Mr. Dodge later admitted he received an apology from Mr. Genth for sending the email and that he accepted the apology, but apparently he was still upset Thursday.
“You have apologized for it and I’m willing to accept your apology,” Mr. Dodge told Mr. Genth at Thursday’s meeting, before blasting Mr. Genth for sending the email.
“I take exception to that,” Mr. Dodge said. “That was not Dean Genth the individual, that was Dean Genth the Chairman of the Commission. I was attending a family function and I was chastised by you, via (city) staff that is paid by the taxpayers.”
Mr. Genth replied to Mr. Dodge, saying that the email was just “a memo” to the commissioners. “It was an expression by the chair of this Human Rights Commission in a landmark event, I was hopeful that someone would have come to the rally at the park that I was responsible for organizing. Why don’t we just move on?”
NorthIowaToday.com later received a copy of Mr. Genth’s email and a reply from Mayor Eric Bookmeyer, who in his reply also took aim at Mr. Genth. NIT published the entire email chain.
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I don’t see why everyone on both articles are being douches. Matt is a wonderful landlord. I’ve been with him since 2004. I really wouldn’t go to anyone else unless I was forced too. If I need something fixed his maintenance man is there right away. I don’t have to wait days to get it fixed. Unlike some of the land lords in this town. His rent is nicely priced.
Matt Dodge did you or did you not brag about telling Dean off after the meeting ?You might want to be careful how you answer this question. Which I am sure you will not be answering.
Matt does care about Mason City. He could just stay in his office sell insurance and rent places for people to live. (No one is forced to rent from him). He puts himself out there to help the City and the people of Mason City even when people use his efforts against him to hurt his family and business. I for one will be getting an insurance quot just to say “thanks Matt”.
Would Matt Dodge rent an apartment to Mayor Elect Quinn Symmonds?
Well, let’s just say that Matt Dodge is no Alan Dodge!!
Isn’t the point that Genth used his position as chair to try and embarrass Dodge, mayor & council members? As chair of HRC shouldn’t he appear neutral – he can personally have his own opinions but when wearing his chair hat doing what he did is out of place.
I to use to buy insurance from Matt a few years back. I no longer do. He is not the kind of man I want to do business with. He is a landlord and I seen how he treats his tenants and I have no respect for him.
Mr. Dodge is a successful insurance agent and landlord. So why does anyone complain about him? He isn’t on food stamps. Not on welfare. Not a liability to the city. He has a job, pays taxes, obeys the laws. If you want to complain about people, there are enough welfare deadbeats in this city that you can throw stones at. Also drug users, pedophiles, and illegal aliens. If you have an ax to grind, grind it on those who deserve it.
Dodge was probably told to make a big show of this minor issue by his lord and master our mayor. Dodge and Palmer both are so far up the mayors butt they should suffocate.
I used to buy insurance from his grandpa too. Now I get it from Clint Thomas and am very happy I do.
What would Quinn do, he is against HATE!?? Answer: FREE INTERNET!
Matt, poor baby, what an ass you make of yourself.
That e-mail wasn’t that big a deal and you won’t even take Mr. Genth’s apology. Your carping to be a big shot. You got carried away over a small thing. Get over it!
Never, ever, would I purchase insurance from an asshole like you! You are so nothing like your Grandpa who I bought insurance from his whole time in business.
Shame on you!