MASON CITY – In another well-attended public forum, his fifth, mayoral candidate Max Weaver faced cheers and jeers from an enthusiastic crowd Thursday evening.
Standing before a hearty crowd at the Mason City Room at the library, a cross-section of citizens got a a glimpse of what a Max Weaver mayor-ship would be like.
Mr. Weaver was cheered by many in attendance as he described how he would lead council meetings and represent the community.
He was also challenged by a long-time critic, David Gilbert, a frequent attendee of city council meetings.
“Don’t you ever say anything, you draft dodger. You didn’t have enough guts to sign the paper and protect your country. You stayed home under somebody’s skirt!” Mr. Gilbert shouted.
Mr. Weaver took the criticism in stride and went so far as to yield the floor to Mr. Glibert, giving him five minutes to address the crowd.
“Let him speak,” Mr. Weaver proclaimed. “I’m going to be the mayor of this community. We should let our citizens talk.”
Later, Mr. Weaver clarified Mr. Gilbert’s accusation of being a “draft-dodger.”
“Well, if Mr. Gilbert would remember, in 1970, they stopped the draft and went to a lottery system. My number, if I remember right, was 292. Nobody from the bottom third got called to duty. There was a war at home. I stood with millions of my countrymen and women to bring an end to the carnage.”
Mr. Weaver went on to say that he felt vindicated after former Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara – who was instrumental in escalating the Vietnam War – apologized in a 1995 memoir, saying: “We were wrong, terribly wrong. We owe it to future generations to explain why.”
Mr. Weaver’s next public forum will be held on October 21st at the Mason City library starting at 6 PM.
Watch video:
httpv://youtu.be/JMeOgDFBfgo
Photos:
The crowd either looks half asleep or half dead. I can’t tell which.
Hey Cheater YOU”LL be there soon enough!
Better watch it. ALL comes back to BITE!
You sure this wasn’t held at a retirement home and not at the library??
Doesn’t matter now. What ever happens Weaver has solidified what a mayor SHOULD be and a stand up good kind of man.
Pitty the people who can’t or won’t see it.
Let them have their plans now because later they won’t have anything. Just the way it is.
Congratulations Max for just being a fine person, that’s a WINNER!
Wonder where Reggie is today? No comment on the numbers? More people at this meeting than there has been at a city council meeting in a few years. The people do love this community, they do want to speak, they do want to have leadership that listens instead of just spouting off from behind the table to reprimand us for having a thought that is different than theirs.
Now that was awesome. Great job Max, what a way to handle a critic, with respect! You have just solidified my choice for mayor. Great job!
That Peter Children fella looks like he is half asleep. Interesting cross mix of folks.
God Bless America
God Bless Max Weaver for standing tall.
Thank you Dave Gilbert for helping Max. It showed the citizens of Mason City, how the mayor should be, and not how bookmeyer is now. Wake up and smell the roses Dave.
The important thing to take out of this is not Mr Gilbert and his antics, but rather how Max handled the situation. Totally dispoved the fact that Max is impossible to work with, is disrespectful, or only sees things his way. You couldn’t find a guy more on the other side in this situation and Max yeilded the floor to him, respected him, and let him have his say. I attended the first forum Max had and he said then, “You all have seen the worst of me, now I want you to give me the chance to show you the best of me.” I think that is what we have seen here and I look forwarded to seeing more of this if he gets elected.
Waitress that is too funny!!!!!
Gilbert is so out of touch he can’t talk straight!
All they got is ONE thing to mess with Max and it didn’t even happen AND it 45 yrs AGO! Are you kidding me!
Bookmeyer that didn’t work so now what. Such a weirdo!
Mr Fantastic hit it again! SCORE!!!!!
No one has ever clapped at Bookmeyer! No one ever will!
They even have DOORS on their mailbox’s at city hall!
Thanks Max so much to look forward to!
Mr Gilbert? You mean Mrs. Doubtfire! Bahaha. The dude was two punches deep n then ran outta gas, like an old lady at the Embers Buffet. What an angry, angry woman Mr. Gilbert is.
Sounds like Mr. Gilbert is a bitter old man. There were many of us who didn’t enlist in the military during that time because we didn’t have to. We didn’t dodge anything; we exercised our constitutional right to not enlist. My number was 298. I didn’t go but I would have if my birthdate came up early in the lottery. I didn’t want to go. I felt it was an unjust and ill thought out war. History has vindicated those ideas that many of us held at the time as Max pointed out with Mr McNamara’s statement. Good luck Max. By the way, it sounds like Mr. Gilbert did what Mayor Bookmeyer accused Max of doing during council meetings. Has he ever been asked to leave?
Bitter old man? Everybody there is bitter and old. Thats the only people that have the time to go to these things.
Mc Resident, I don’t Concider myself Bitter and Old as you are Calling it, I attended it, and was very Impressed with what Max had to say and My Family and Myself will be Voting for MAX WEAVER !!
mc resident, do you work the day shift or the night shift? I am just curious.