Editorial by Matt Marquardt –
I again read with amusement the hatchet job John Skipper tried to inflict upon me in his rag masquerading as a newspaper.
He called me a snake, a sucker-puncher. He tried to paint poor little Eric Bookmeyer as a victim.
The truth of the matter is, John Skipper, you are a liar and have been covering for Eric Bookmeyer and this council for years.
The truth is, Eric Bookmeyer approached me three years ago this month – I had never met the man – and told me to give up my business, to quit. He insulted me and said I had no business being in business. I had, just a couple weeks prior, launched NorthIowaToday.com, and it had caught fire and was being read. He knew I was serious about investigating his malfeasance in office, and wanted to bully my doors shut, just as he has done to others in town.
I shook his hand and said I’ll see you at the council meetings.
Now, three years later, the truth about Eric Bookmeyer and several of his council members is out, but John Skipper refuses to write about it. He has covered it all up.
Nevermind that Skipper ignored newly-elected Alex Kuhn’s threats to two young men in a bar. Nevermind that John Skipper never reported that Janet Solberg attempted to take over the City’s insurance business and attacked a City employee.
He wrote earlier that there is no “hostile work environment” created by Eric Bookmeyer at City Hall. He knows there is, and the complaints have been filed to prove it. What do you think the Human Rights debacle is? Just the icing on the cake.
Skipper has never, ever, written about the mayor’s proven behavior in the community of bullying citizens, using profanity in their businesses and causing some to cry. He has never acknowledged Eric Bookmeyer’s stumble-bum reputation as a drunk. He simply can’t bring himself to believe any of it could be true, after all, John Skipper vouched for Eric Bookmeyer. He will never go back on that word; it would prove he was wrong, and even a liar like Mr. Skipper can’t have that kind of shame.
Win or lose this election, I have made my point: John Skipper and Eric Bookmeyer will stop at nothing to protect their relationship; Bookmeyer carries Skipper’s lunch by allowing Skipper to sit in the mayor’s office almost daily, bonding like a long-lost father and son. Skipper is Bookmeyer’s business agent, only “reporting” what Bookmeyer wants, how he wants it. It is all cooked up, folks; you are getting a sliver of the truth from Skipper, and most of that is rotten and full of holes.
I could win this election. I could lose. I truly believe that there is more to this nasty game than just keeping me out of the meetings. I believe there are facts, complaints, shenanigans that Bookmeyer and Skipper want kept from me at all costs. I would upset the apple cart. The people of Mason City would be awakened. And the Good Old Boys Club will fight tooth and nail to stop that from happening.
It is a shame that this campaign season is marred by the actions of the incumbents. I stand ready to debate Janet Solberg, Eric Bookmeyer, whoever, publicly. Let us stand before the people of Mason City and take their questions. I’ll stand inside the band shell and take the questions from the audience. I’m ready and waiting.
Skipper is like a turd in a box. Its hard to see trough but the stink is always there. Also Beermeyers three campaign D’s should really be
Drunk
Dishonest
Disgrace
OPEN RANGE: Our last mayor was a drunk too. He would stop at the bar closest to NIACC after the council meetings and get drunk, then the police would follow him home to make sure he got there safe.
@Senior-In my opinion that is very true. I personally saw the previous mayor fall off the podium once and was told by a couple of councilmen that they couldn’t get close to him because of the alcohol smell. He used to stop at the bar after work and then go to the council meetings drunk. However, to my knowledge he was always polite and never confrontational, he always showed respect for the citizens..
When I saw the photo of Skipper and Bookmeyer it brought to mind something I was thinking about some time back. You could substitute Skipper and Bookmeyer for Peter Children and Matt “Onion Skin” Marquardt. A slobbering love affair between Matt and Peter.
Everyone knows that if Matt should happen to win, he will be nothing less than Peter’s puppet. Matt will be spoon fed by Peter Children and will take his marching orders from Peter also!
Oh, by the way…..that one caveat I mentioned some time ago. I cannot vote in the city elections because I no longer live in Mason City. I moved some time ago. I have moved on to much greener and better pastures.
@Cheter-what a dumb a## thing to say. We are well rid of someone like you. Do us a favor and stay gone.
With only 40 replies here, it has me worried. There are over 10,000 eligible voters and I do not think much of this information is getting to the people in the cheap seats.
Folks can get on here and get all this off their chest because they know what is going on. I am doubting any of this blogged info about the issues and lack of decorum is getting to the people who can make the difference.
It will not turn the vote out because most folks do not come to this web site that are going to/or should be doing the voting.
It would be great to see all this energy channeled and directed to the voters to motivate them to vote and get involved!
Form some groups and get out and walk and talk to your neighbors. Use all this energy to make a difference.
You can bet the IN-CROWD is hopping like the dickens that we have a low voter turn out.
Let’s get with it Bloggers!!1
“M/C REALLY NEEDS A CHANGE STARTING WITH HIM RIGHT DOWN TO MCPD WHO DON’T ENFORCE ANYTHING UNLES IT BENEFITS THEM!!!!!CITIZENS ARM YOURSELF TAKE BACK OUR HOME & GOVERMENT!!” [sic]
One can hope this was not written with serious intent. It reeks of paranoia, not to mention is lacking in any sort of factual basis.
Good, bad or otherwise, our Police Officers make a reasonable attempt to enforce laws, all of them. I suggest if you feel the contrary, you assemble your facts, and present them to a court of law (if you could prove it at all). Not hearsay, not unsubstantiated claims, but facts that can stand up in a court of law.
There may be those who carry a firearm into Council meetings, ignoring the law. If you feel that kind of behavior is wrong, gather your proof, and present it to the courts. However, just because others break the law, gives no one else the right to suggest others do the same. It makes you just as guilty in the eyes of the law.
Jeeeez you kids are so blind!
Ask yourselves about these things..really? Anyone who is on board with this Skipper guy or Bookmeyer is screwing their own selves! HOw much more evidence do you need?
Wake up !!!!
I wish we had someone running for Mayor that wasn’t a rerun. But who wants to be chewed up and spit out?
Matt must be hard to function with all the hate and animosity that you carry around with you daily, but God forgives you.
If you had any idea what you were talking about you’d be dangerous. Fact of the matter is…you’re an idiot.
Ah the globe who wrote about how crime is down in Mason City a few stabbings and a couple nurders ago.
I stop the globe because of Skipper and his lies when telling a story. If John Skipper and the globe is all this area can do for a paper and media source it should close its doors because the last thing they are is impartial
I voted today also, for Matt, Max and Leonard. Everyone please get out and vote!
The Globe is a “happy paper that only prints “happy” stories about a “happy” town full of “happy” people. Reminds me of the movie Pleasentville.cs
Because that’s what they want people to believe. FAR from the truth.
Not only the City Council Skipper shields. The County Supervisors and their dealings would be all over the papers–if the reporting would get done!!
Between this local mudslinging back and forth (…and yes both parties are guilty) as well as the national mudslinging about the government shutdown and looming debt ceiling, I am disgusted and embarassed!!! I’d rather elect a 12 year old because they are more mature. All parties need to man up and act like the mature representatives we need to fix this city! I don’t care about all the “he said she said” comments, I don’t care about the battle between two competing news agencies in Mason City, I don’t care about where Bookmeyer goes after hours or what Todd Blodgett does, or Peter Children, or Max Weaver or anyone else who is an elected official, commentator, or news representative. This is all trivial, immature mudslinging that must stop before this town becomes a ghost town of a bunch of hot head, alcoholics and rose garden movers who like ugly statues…. Stop it before you are all that’s left! Stop it! Now everyone go to their rooms and think about what they’ve done. Don’t come out until you can say two nice things about each other!
If someone was talking about you with outright lies would you not make the truth known? I think we all need to protect our good names and our reputations. It can be done with integrity and with out mud slinging.
Again, Matt, instead of encouraging you to get out of business, the Mayor should have said, “Matt, maybe you misquoted me or maybe you misunderstood me, but let’s sit down 20 minutes a week and talk about the issues facing the city.” I think there would have been a whole different outcome of things around River City. I KNOW you would have welcomed that with open arms and so would your readers.
All this about Skipper is SO TRUE and I am tired of his agenda and one-sided journalism. Never in support of the little guy.
THICK AS THIEVES!!!
You think the mayor and skipper are best friends you should see councilman lee and skipper
Lee has no clue what he is talking about 95% of the time. He just fakes it trying to get by.
Is it true that abgail lee was bragging the the illegal radio show by bob fisher and mayor was right on target and that her hubby and alex kuhn thought it was the best thing ever? cheryl gerk heard her telling pple at garage sale— she was nutz almost psycho, i guess she relly hate marquardt and was giddy over it al
There are just some people that bring shame and embarrassment to MC who think they are so much better than everyone else. It is almost comical.
The incumbents are mostly Queery.
Skipper rides a Fugali Harley – Just ask stevie – a $379,000.00 at that.
Skipper has been lying since the 80s what is new about that.The Globe can not even be called a newspaper anymore.It does not publish in bad weather,it is all Wire stories on sunday.Back in the day it actually had reporters that reported.Now,its not the case.Keep exposing them Matt for what Skipper is and what the globe does.Good luck on the election.
Holy moses matt. You know how dirty most of the city officials are you better get a permit to carry. The people in this town with common sense knows what happens when you get in their way. Some go missing!!! Go get your permit
TOTALLY AGREE!!!! GET THAT PERMIT …. AND CARRY IT EVERYWHERE JUST LIKE THE OFFICALS NOW EVEN AT THE COUNCIAL MEETING THERE ARE 3 OF THEM CARRYING FIREARMS I KNOW OF ( LAW SAYS NOT TO CARRY IN GOVERMENT BUILDINGS) GUESS THEY CAN’T READ!!!!!! MATT”S LUCKY HE DIDN’T GET SHOT WHEN BOOKMYER BLEW A HISSY FIT…… M/C REALLY NEEDS A CHANGE STARTING WITH HIM RIGHT DOWN TO MCPD WHO DON’T ENFORCE ANYTHING UNLES IT BENEFITS THEM!!!!!CITIZENS ARM YOURSELF TAKE BACK OUR HOME & GOVERMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I voted today for Max, Matt, and Lenard
YOU FORGOT JODI
Can’t vote for Jodi unless you live in the 2nd ward.
Thank you Jim. I think this will be close. Win or lose, you have been a strong supporter.
IF ALL THIS IS OR ISN’T TRUE WHY IS THERE NO OPEN DEBATE TO LET THE PEOPLE OF M/C ASK AND THE OTHER DELEGATES A CHANCE TO CONFRONT QUESTIONS FACE TO FACE????? THE MAYOR HAS ALREADY SAID HE’S AFRAID OF WHAT MIGHT SURFACE, WELL MABE IT’S TIME FOR THE TRUTH!!!!!!!!!!! BOOKMYER WHY WAIT LEAVE NOW_____ ONLY THING LEFT IS TO SWEAR IN MAX,JODI,MATT,LENARD…………. GIT-R-DONE!!
Really, the caps lock on your text is annoying.
What is written here is refreshing, without this site the people living here wouldn’t have a clue what is going on in this town. The Globe has always been bias, for years they decided who would live and who would die, no more. Now there is another voice and because of the straight forwardness of its publisher there are those among us who want to silent it. I don’t think that will happen.
Bookmeyer should have been re-called a long time ago, and if per chance he wins again there needs to be a long look into the moral standards in the city code about drunkeness in public.
I have lived in other cities, some larger, some smaller, but this is the all time carnival.
I was standing in the global building and heard with my own ears john Query say he didn’t want to be in mason city but this is where he ended up. It is sad to think the leader of the newspaper in town doesn’t even care about his community
Sorry I meant to say Howard
Great Editorial Matt. I will bet the mayor and Skipper are shaking in their lying boots right now. This is just what has been needed in this city for a long time. Someone who tells the truth just like it is without pulling any punches. Vote for Max, Matt Jodi and Leonard and lets get a city government that is for the real people of the city.
We got this Mason City !!!
TWO (2) Words
MATT and MAX !!!!!
Seriously these are the guys who think they RUN Mason City? F @#%! has Hollywood seen them yet? 24 million dollar comedy right here in River City.
Disgusting the whole lot! I wouldnt call that refreshing Bookmeyer, remember you said you really don’t want the elderly around? Why did you change your mind with Skipper? I get it, you NEED him so it doesn’t count.
Skipper Bookmeyer has you by the nads! You idiot.
VOTE and get Bookmeyer OUT !!!!!
Howard needs to step up and manage his people better, well maybe just this Skipper guy.
UNbelieveable! I knew Howard a looong time ago and he was cool and open it seemed…Howard what happened? Skipper only makes you look like a dink.
And certainly as stated morally?
Bookmeyer and Skipper what exactly did happen to your morals and good ole fashioned consciences? Bad juju both of you!
I for one hope Mason City is hearing this and really deeply thinking about these people and their TRUE selves of which we have seen only a glimmer of the devil in them.
Get out and VOTE!!!!
If Skipper could get the shit out of his mouth long enough, no one can understand him talk, maybe he would think clearly and maybe admit his major malfunction of LYING to we citizens of Mason City.
Ok folks more truth spewed. If you think these are not problems with both of them then shame on you too. There is a hundred more yet to hear about.
Funny how people are so stupid to believe in these guys for whatever reasons and more funny these guys don’t think they are any of that at all. How can anyone be so blind?!
Until it hit’s you personally I guess stupid will stay. Isn’t your money and our little city personal enough?
Think of your families that don’t have the choice to decide and what these guys can do. We simply can’t have Crookmeyer in for one more minute!
MATT and MAX!!!! DO it!
Matt, you forget one other person who is in “bed” with the “skipper” and “Gilligan” ie: the mayor. That person is Howard Query who allows this slanted, pollyana, type of reporting to go on in the Globe. Where is his moral compass pointed?
It doesn’t get anymore factual than this! ALL TRUE…