MASON CITY -The election season is starting to heat up in Mason City.
NIT first received word that an announcement from a Mason City council candidate is due later this evening and will be published at that time. The announcement will change the landscape of the city council elections.
In another development, Fourth Ward City Council candidate Matt Marquardt received some interesting mail Friday morning.
In a letter, an anonymous writer tries to pay off Marquardt to drop out of the election.
The letter states “Here is my contribution to your political campaign to NOT run for 4th ward councilman.” There was a $1 bill inside the envelope.
The writer of the letter claims to be a Mason City business owner and said Marquardt would be a “mouthpiece for Max” who would “drag us backwards”.
The letter is signed but the name is unintelligible. The envelope the letter arrived in has no return address.
When reached for comment, Mr. Marquardt offered this statement:
“An anonymous letter arrived in my mailbox Friday morning that I found humorous while at the same time mean-spirited and really just an attempt to bully me out of this election, which I fully intend to win. When I win this election and assume my place on the Council, the people of the Fourth Ward and the rest of the city win, as well. They know I aim to return City Hall to the people and take it out of the hands of special interests. The letter writer is right about one thing, I am not sold out to the Chamber of Commerce, the North Iowa Corridor, nor anyone. I would ask the letter writer, what do you have to hide here and really, how informed are you? You spelled my name wrong and hid your identity. Why not reveal yourself and have a dialogue with me? I am interested in finding out exactly how informed you really are. I am open to discussing your concerns in a friendly manner.”
When asked what he would spend the $1 “donation” on, Marquardt said “I spent it at a Fourth Ward business today at noon. I gave it as an extra tip to our waitress at the Village Court Restaurant, located on South Taft Avenue.”
See the letter, below:
(CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW LARGER)
