MASON CITY – Fourth Ward City Council candidate Matt Marquardt made it official today, turning in to the City Clerk in Mason City the required petition signatures and the notarized affidavit of candidacy form.
“I’m very confident in my campaign at this time,” Marquardt said Monday afternoon. “I have knocked on my share of doors so far. The reception has been great. I reluctantly turned down a home-cooked meal at one home as I had a lot of stops to make yet that evening. I came back the next day to chat some more. I’ve made a lot of new friends and found out a lot of interesting information.”
Marquardt is the only official candidate for Fourth Ward City Council, although the incumbent Janet Solberg claims she is running.
“I wish Mrs. Solberg the best in life, but it’s time to move forward with new leadership in the Fourth Ward,” Marquardt said. “Mrs. Solberg learned early on after taking office that attacking City employees – running up legal bills for the taxpayers in the process, attempting to take over the City’s insurance business, using her clout as a Council member against a Latino Church, and calling the police on her neighbors is not acceptable representation. I was told by residents in Central Heights that Mrs. Solberg complained about small children who waited for the school bus near her house, and they were forced to move. We deserve better, a representative that cares about all the citizens and reacts to their needs.
“I formally invite Mrs. Solberg to a debate at the Mason City Library on a date and time we can agree upon. I will clear my schedule to accommodate hers. Our library director will facilitate a location in the library where the public can attend and ask questions.
“I look forward to a successful campaign and to serving the people of Mason City.”
BIO
Full name: Matthew Earl Marquardt
Birth Date: October 1, 1972
Profession: Entrepreneur; Owner and Publisher of NorthIowaToday.com
Family: Son, Chris, age 15
Education: Mason City High School class of 1991, University of Iowa class of 1996 (B.A., History)
Is it true ,Bookmeyer got chased out of Clinton Iowa?
Solberg is a big phoney. She wanted to use a public alley beside their property to park their huge motor home. So the city council was called to tell her they could not.
She’s out for herself. Just like some of the rest on the council. This town needs a good clean up. Go get them Matt. good luck. we haven,t seen anything that she’s done for this area. people have built their fences over these alleys and you can’t drive through. also the city needs to come out and mow the alleys’ tall weeds. It’s not up to us.
Thank you folks I appreciate your support and your votes. With your help, Mrs. Solberg will be staying home on Tuesday nights and the real truth will start coming forth.
Good luck Matt. I do not live in your ward but you have my support.
good luck Matt. you have our vote. We really would like to see you run for mayor. This town hasn”t had a good mayor since Ken Kew. Bookmeyer needs to get out. Please people don”t vote him in again. Lets get honest people like Matt on the council. you can put a sign in our yard too. good luck Matt.
Matt you may place sign in my yard!
Matt…Just to clarify something, the neighbors of the Hispanic church that you reference to are the one who went to the city council, police, and Brent Trout regarding the noise and other issues coming from the church. Since Ms. Solberg is our council representative, she has been in contact with the people who live near this church, which by the way, still continues to be a constant problem, trying to help us remedy this problem. If a certain person in the Central Heights area, who doesn’t even live near the church, would have kept his nose out the the situation, this wouldn’t have been splashed all over the media in the first place. Now, if you want to find out the truth, why don’t you go talk to the neighbors of the church and find out for yourself, instead of what you are being told by people who have no knowledge of the situation. Since you can have access to my email, if you want to email me and set up a face to face, I am up to that.
I am very interested in your concern, and I sent an email. I’ll look forward to discussing the issue with you. Thanks.
Her HAIRNESS is shakin in her flats! She’s forgetting all her dasterdly deeds along the way and here it is knockin. She’s thinking oh boy, oh wait, I’ll get out of it I have this this and oh ya this. Not going to work your hairness.
Matt it is 100% certain Solburg will run from you. You should challenge the mayor.
Hi Matt, you have our vote. Good luck, I am talking to as many people in 4th ward to support you.
Good luck Matt.
I’m curious. You have devoted your website to discussing what’s wrong with Mason City but I’m interested in hearing what specifically you’d like to achieve as a council member?
Meaningful debate would be great. doubt Janet will respond to that. What are the 5 biggest improvements you would like to see accomplished in our city?
Matt wanted to tell you “good luck” and you will have our vote.
Matt Im in another ward but best of luck. I also wish you were running for Mayor. Again Good Luck.
why dont I need a subscription to read about you Matt?????????????
This is a great story, Matt should charge you to read but he’s a nice guy and let’s you read it for free. So you can be informed.
Really? Didn’t you read in his profile that he is OW-NER of NIT? Not sure, but I am, that means he can do anything he wants with HIS website! I think it has something to do with free enterprise or something along those lines! I wish I lived in Mason City, I would vote for Matt, if for no other reason, just to see him hold some of the Council accountable! Keep up the good work, Matt!
Be careful not to make her too irate, she has a CCW permit…and that’s scarey.
Solberg couldn’t hit a broad side of a barn anywhoo! Her big poofy hair would get in the way!
Yes, scary Solberg has CCW. Almost as scary as Todd Blodgett has one. What are we coming to.
@Julie-Just what does Todd Blodgett have to do with this article. You are obsessed with him. Probably a love infatuation.
Or Julie is Todd……
Good luck Matt. It should make for an interesting race. I too would like to see a debate or at least have both parties answer a series of questions put forth by 4th Ward voters.
Solberg looks creepy as hell in that pic. And that’s a big improvement. Matt you would dominate Solberg in a debate. There’s no way she will accept your challenge, we all know she will duck you.
What does Janet do for a living?
She sells insurance.
I guess selling insurance is better than running an internet blog and charging stupid people money to read the stories. Get a real job Matt and then maybe you can run for office. What is with these unemployed people like Matt, Quinn, and Peter L that run for office but don’t like to work full time jobs?
@Steve-you know on the internet you can be anything you want. It is strange that you choose to be stupid.
Stupid people. Brilliant! What does that make you? An idiot coward freeloader? Giggle.
@ Steve, For you to leave a comment on this story you must of read it. According to you, “stupid people read the stories”. So, I guess you are admitting that you are stupid? By the way, you left out one name on your list of “unemployed people that like to run for office but don’t like to work full time jobs”. How about our one and only Eric Bookmeyer?
Best of luck to you. I know you will make an excellent councilman who will represent all of the people. I too wish you were running for mayor.
Good luck Matt wish you were running for Mayor
Awesome. Best of luck.