MASON CITY – The man who leads Mason City Human Rights Commission meetings will not be retaining his seat on that board.
According to chairman Dean Genth, “Our Mayor notified me today (Monday) that he will not be reappointing me to the Mason City Human Rights Commission.”
Apparently speaking for the City Council, Mr. Genth stated that Mayor Eric Bookmeyer told him that “the City Council does not approve of the direction that I’ve been taking the Human Rights Commission.”
Mr. Genth has been known as a critic of Eric Bookmeyer’s move to shut down Human Rights in the city, a quest that began in 2009 during his first campaign for mayor. Bookmeyer appointed Cohl Bultje, the son of the manager of IC Systems – a former Mason City call center company that had a number of complaints against it at the Human Rights Commission – to be his campaign manager. Bookmeyer used the call center in his first mayoral campaign. After taking office in 2010, Bookmeyer immediately set about ousting Lionel Foster – a member of the Iowa African American Hall of Fame – and appointing persons to the board who many say have little interest in investigating Human Rights violations. Matt Dodge, a large landlord and appointee of Bookmeyer’s, before applying to the board, took a dispute he had with the Mason City Human Rights agency to a federal office in Kansas City.
Reactions from the non-caucasian community in the city to Eric Bookmeyer have been positive and negative. In November, one Latino man told NIT that “I don’t know anything about him.” Another group of African-Americans told NIT in November that “We’re all voting against him because we heard he’s racist.”
The Mason City Human Rights Commission is made up of nine members. It was previously made up of a department and a commission. The department, while still technically in existence, was defunded by City Hall. Long-time director Lionel Foster was forced out by Mayor Eric Bookmeyer and the City Council by pulling funding, which did not allow for salaries to be paid. Long-time assistant Amy Simpson quit. The city’s website still shows their names and contact information.
“Some days just complete the sadness your are feeling,” Mr. Genth stated Monday. “I’ve worked day and night to keep the Commission going on the $15,000 we were budgeted for the annual operation by the City Council.”
Most Human Rights cases in the city will now be forwarded to a state-run agency in Des Moines. At this time, there is no one at City Hall to do intake of cases.
Weaver lost by the most because that’s who get’s the most votes. The mayor seat.
Landslide hardly. Look at Bookmeyers numbers the previous election, he’s down 500 or so from then. So if Bookmeyer hadn’t begged and promised people things it would have NEVER happened this time.
And WHO counted the votes anyway? Probably a snag there too.
@ LVS your saying Urdahl stabs the chairman Stone in the back, takes info from him and gives it to Blodgett? Sorry, no. Jay is not somebody I could trust, but just do not see him helping Booky.
@U P S-I didn’t say that. It was told to me by someone who is involved in the Democratic Party here in town. I know that is the feeling of a lot of people involved in the election.
@U P S-besides, it is well known that Urdahl is good buddy’s with Blodgett. That is why I believe it to be true.
LVS we know Urdahl is in good with Blodgett so are alot of bullys and greedys that get’s our taxes, ect. Blimpmeyer, Phil Dougherty, Steve Minert, all them have got stuff like our money and help with campaign things, then there is special deals from the powers to be that Toddy boy was in on. They would not of got this stuff but their Nazi druggie buddy, he mixes them together to get. Like out at the country club like it has been reported. I for one, am soooooo mad at this it just make’s me want to scream.
@Connie-I really don’t care who Urdahl is friends with. If I had to guess I would say old Doc is just using him for what he can get. Urdahl is nothing but a puppet to him. What I do care about is some very good people were sold down the river by this if it is true and a really tend to believe the person who told me.
@ U P S ~ Apparently you are not one of the elite who was asked to be at Dr Ruin’s house For Eric’s plea for to Keep his team in place. Jay Urdahl was and helping Bookie campaign. So What you believe and what really happened are two different realities.
laughing so Jay was for Beermonger, don’t surprise me just shows his true colors. He always takes the big money from Gary Blodgett then he throws working people under the bus. Urdahl selling out our county Democratic central chair takes the cake, he is a pukey money grubber that will burn in Hell.
See, beer tastes good, so does booze, specially if youre addicted to it, so big deal if Booozeandbeeradmirer drinks til he can barely stand, can you blame him? The man thirsts for booze, it’s probly in his DNA, just like being a mooch who lives off his wife is in his DNA. Now I dont condone his fake allegiance to christ and the facade he puts on at trinity, fooling those very holy folks. Sad that he is so hungover on sunday that he acts that way. Jesus have mercy on his soul.
So what the election’s over. Doesn’t mean they stopped being self centered assholes which means we will talk and talk about them.
The easiest and best way to get rid of Drunkmeyer now would be to get his wife another job, somewhere far away. She’s the income, he has to go where she goes!
@ LVS ok so why do people let this spoiled Nazi doper keep egging on them thats wrecking our town. Shame on Urdahl some Democrat he is, what a piece of shit. Well Todd Blodgett better hope I dont run in to him, he will not like what happens.
@Jerry-I have no idea why they continue to let Urdahl get away with what he does. Brainwashed I guess. I would be real careful about Todd if I was you. He may or may not be a lot of things but he can certainly protect himself if needed. He is well trained and I don’t think he would have a lot of problems with most people.
@ Union & Rhonda – This family of rightwingnutbag Republitards cares not about the unfair advantages they exercise over their political opposition. That is why they are Republitards. The insensate comments here posted by As Seen From Here sound like the anti-welfare columns that the Globb prints by Toddy Boy. It must really be yahoo night on this site, what with all these prejudiced fascists lobbing their poison.
I’ve said it once, I’ll say it a thousand times… The election’s over people! The citizens of Mason City have spoken and a majority of Mason City people must be happy with where Mason City is going. Now it’s time to get over it and move on for Godsakes!
PS Oh, almost forgot to mention the North End as is in every article on NIT so here’s my message… stay away from my North End or we’ll go all ghetto on ya up here. Run!!! blah blah blah cultural crescent blah blah blah Beermeister blah blah blah Robin Adnerson blah blah blah Red Dice
Yes the election is over, but it was not a landslide by any stretch…. And, only 37% of the people voted. The top 1-2% of the population carried the
Mayor and his Yes Team.– if u analyze the results.
Jodi Draper lost by only 155 votes and she won the Absentee ballots… Matt Marquardt and Solberg were close. Max Weaver lost by the most.
There is still a long ways for the above mentioned to go before they will be acceptable to the majority of the people. I do not see it happening. But, 2 years from now there will be another Council election and 4 years– Mayor and Council…
Next time– they will not the only ones who play nasty….
Now, let’s get busy and be watchful and vigilant….
@Concerned
Lets be clear here. The only thing you are concerned about is YOURSELF.
Ya, LVS Larry Vermin Snidely is the poster boy for civil rights! LOL
@IowaSucks,
Whats wrong with you?
@ Watchdog, thank you. I only take exception with one of your observations, that being that TB is not smooth. He is worse; he is slick. Toddy Boy’s family background, education, employment history, and wealth simply do not indicate crudity. He can switch from crude to smooth to suit his purposes. When Paul Rhoads spoke here this summer, a friend of ours met young Blodgett. He said that Toddy Boy had on what looked like a custom made suit, and monogrammed gold cufflinks that probably cost more than most people’s vehicles. Our friend told us that TB was very articulate, informed, even witty. He had a hard time reconciling the image he had formed with the person he met. So, I must say that the most apt description of Toddy Boy is slick. His work with Lee Atwater is only part of this far right lunatic’s story, which needs to get out. He is causing much too much damage to continue ignoring his dirty work on behalf of these local bullies.
Your right, Blodgett is slick as snot on a icy sidewalk.
Toddy boy would of never had all his fancy jobs if it would of not been for his familys money and rich friends of big daddy Gary, the only thing he ever done on his own is get busted for smokin crack.
Now that’s a light shed upon. Precisely what Bookmeyer and team are all about.
We know Tornquist says he brings god to the table(Ah when?) but Bookmeyer goes to church? I don’t believe it. And He doesn’t know what happens to people like himself?
You will have your day and it won’t be a good one. In fact you have been so incredibly rank this day will be double of what you’ve dished out. Really? Think again. AND to any one of you who think he is UPRIGHT…
Oh yes all Booky wants to do is take from the poor give it to the rich, look at the Harley deal. He get’s his Nazi crack head buddy Blodgett to hook him up with Steve Minert. Out to the country club they meet up. Next thing, Booky get’s the Council give all that money to the Harley. Our money. Wonder if Minert paid Toddy Boy in cash or coke? Slime is what this excuse for a Mayor is all the way.
Simple…. Psalm 37:14 start there Bookmeyer and followers
The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright.
@ LVS, it is like NIACC told you, Toddy boy learned his dirty tricks from Attwater. So, he is real good at covering his tracks. His old man is at least up front about the election’s he buys but the crack head, he sneaks around. Like any drug addict. The only ones knows are these bullies that is wrecking things.
Baffeling that an out of town punk can wipe out so many people. The kind of people that YOU really are, you know who you are as you are reading this.
He put some sugar in his hand and you licked. Ever wonder when YOUR day will come and he get’s rid of you? He only needs some for a short time.
Shame on the voters for dissin OUR TOWN people who really care about all of it.
Your greed for money will get you. We can’t wait!
Beermeister is not the only out of town punk sticks his nose in to Mason City politics. One of the guys I have coffee with says Todd Blodgett helps Bookmeyer, Urdahl, Dougherty, and Tornquist, and some of our other local bullies with their campaign’s. He got this from a friend of Alex Kuhns’. What a damn shame this crack smoking Nazi money launder has these guys ears. No low level these crooks won’t stoop to looks like.
Toddy boy is like a hit man that sticks it when nobody is looking, by the time his dirty work is done we are stuck with bad people.
@off-you heard right. I have it on good authority from one of the people involved in the election that Urdahl would go to the democratic chairman and find out what was going on and then relay it to Blodgett who in turn would pass it on to Bookie. So, there are really three snakes involved here, Urdahl, Blodgett and the head snake Drunkmeyer.
@ LVS, I read voraciously about politics and have read about Blodgett’s work with Lee Atwater, the late Republitard dirty trickster. Well, Toddy Boy is referenced as “a Lee Atwater protege” in several news articles. Indulge me here as we connect the dots; my theory is that as Bush left office, Dr. Blodgett told his problem child that he had to get out of Washington, DC – or else. So then Toddy Boy, being quite unable to stand up to old Doc, obeys. With his crack pipe packed away, he starts dividing his time between Iowa and wherever he now lives (Texas?). I have heard he gets bored easily, so my thinking is he deals with that by doing what Atwater taught him. Crooked politicians benefit to our detriment as a Nazi sympathizer is influencing Mason City’s elections. You are definitely on to something here. For this, you get an A+, LVS.
Your right, Todd does get bored very easy, went to Adams with him. Got his mouthy butt kicked more times then I can count like nobody else. He is smart, I give him that. You never seen no kid that could make teachers look dumb like he did. Todd paid for that to, got kicked out. A whole bunch of times, LMAO.
@Retired NIACC
As a voracious political reader I would find conversation with you most interesting. I have personally been a member of the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. I have voted both sides of the aisle and voted for Ross Perot due to the huge sucking sound of job losses.
Currently I am a member of the Cynic Party. Although, I do start each day with a feeling of hope.
I find your observations of Tood Blodgett most interesting. I kind of think you are on to something when you say he took lessons from Atwater. I didn’t know that, but observing his actions over the past few years your inventory of him sure fits his MO. Another fellow who has that same behaviour is Tom Jolas except he is much more smooth and less publicly vocal. But he too is always there and in the background.
Dean your a much better man than this short rolly polly man. I for one can admit and proudly do so saying I did NOT vote for this tirant.
Bookmeyer has money for lawyers, why shouldn’t everyone else? He’s never been discriminated against or rented from slum lords so why is it a problem for others? He’s never needed any related services so why do other people need them?
Booky just can’t figure it out, it’s never been part of his life in any way.
Bookmeyer has to know how many people in town hate his guts. We have had lots of Mayors but this is the first one people have come to hate. That is not a good thing. Bookmeyer has to look over his shoulder everywhere he goes knowing that it is possible he could get the tar stomped out of him because of his behaviour. I hope it don’t happen but with his snarled up personality it surly could.
This is the THIRD chair that the mayor has refused to reappoint.
It’s not easy for this mayor to find cronies to go along with his evil plans. He sits in his chruch pew over at Trinity and praises Jesus, meanwhile he is only a greedy, self serving satan – like man. This mayor should remember, he will reap what he sows.
This is why I don’t go to the Trinity Lutheran Church.
To many hypocrites go there. Nasty stares when you are trying to praise the lord. I pray for the day when the hypocrites take Jesus into their heart and repent.
I agree. Alot of them are big Jesus people on Sunday but the rest of the week they do satan’s work, just like Eric. Would jesus call good people of Mason City names on the radio, and then hide like a coward? Doubt it. Would jesus consume copious amounts of booze and then yell profanities at a hairstylist? Even less likely. Find Jesus, Eric, before he finds you.
I’m not sure about all that, but being a HUGE supporter of human rights this just hurts my heart. I wish they would re-hire Lionel Foster immediately.
Me too. Bring him back.
Who are the other two chairs that did not get reappointed?
cam sargeant is one
I thought that Mr. Sargeant resigned in the middle of his term. ???
Now you know why I am a FORMER RESIDENT. This says is all.
Helloooooooooo,
Are you kidding me? This committee is a total joke!
Mason City does NOT have a Human Rights Commission. They have a committee made up of fools that are trying make people think they care.
If you didn’t see the removal of Mr. Genth coming down the pike, then you are not living in the real world.
Hang your head voters, it is all your fault!!! You re-elected this buffoon we call a Mayor.
@watchdog-once again you have it right. The voters had a chance to get rid of this bunch and put in some people with a little class but they couldn’t get off their dead butts and vote. Now they are stuck with this bunch. I am willing to bet there is more to come.
@LVS — You are so right. MC had an excellent chance to send all of these people packing!
Mason Citians did the same thing putting the same fools back in Washington so stop whining!!
A few edits to the above article should be:
1. “Bookmeyer’s moved to shut down Human Rights in the city” – should read – the department’s funding was reduced to the level of comparable sized cities across Iowa.
2. Before Matt Dodge was appointed to the board, he took a dispute he had with MCHR agency to a federal office in Kansas City. You should have added, taking cases to a federal agency in Kansas City (HUD) was a routine practice of Leonard Foster because they were paid by HUD for each case it presented – no effort was ever taken to resolve these locally with Mason City Housing.
3. “African-Americans told NIT in November that “We’re all voting against him because we heard he’s racist.” It is important to note that they “heard he’s racist” – so innuendo and hearsay is the basis for forming a legitimate opinion? Hardly.
All the above was given legitimacy by the voters in the recent election when all, that’s ALL, of the candidates in the mayor’s camp were returned to office while ALL the opposition were defeated – soundly.
your number 3 is redundit it states “they heard” also the Voters heard many things that were not fact my Bookmeyer and took it to the bank on voting day. He even went on the radio and announced things as fact. SOUNDLY?? really?? Ward 2 and Ward 4 differences were less than 200 votes in each ward. Get over yourself Tell Eric Hello or better yet pat yourself on the back.
Bookmeyer lied and cheated throughout the campaign, that’s the kind of man he is. Churchgoing fraud by day, god only knows at night. Ask his maid.
Oh, then he’s a democrat!
@4ever49 you hit the nail on the head, everyone in the mayors camp were re elected
That is the problem; they are in the Mayors camp and not for the community as a whole. Thank you for saying it out loud in a blog. And everyone who voted for them did it for that reason, they were and are a team, what they want matters what the community needs is irrelevant
When will you rubes get it, human rights is bad for business. And there’s business to be done here in River City. Stop standing in the way of progress.
What progress? You have it bass ackwards. Human Rights is very good for business. Employees treated with respect provide better service.
This town is a dead retail minefield. Forget about any good paying jobs.
I get such bad service in Mason City, I do all of my business elsewhere.
And, Drunkmeyer (Bookie) stacked the board to get away with this without anyone left to stand up to him. SO SAD… is the truth!
And people don’t seem to think their vote can make a difference. The rich get richer and take care of themselves & the non-voters let this happen to themselves… just saying!
Did the people of Mason City NOT see this coming? And yet they voted to reelect Eric.
58% of 35% of 100% of MC voted for the great red-haired boy king. 81.5% of MC either dont care about or cant stand the anointed ruler of Cement City. They got what they asked for. Perhaps they are made to suffer?
This is bull, Dean is passionate about human rights, to bad our lousy mayor isn’t. All I can say, the citizens of Mason city voted him back in, so Mason city, live with him for the next 4 years. Quit griping, you deserve him. So sad. Just saying.
Since Mercy Hospital seems to be a starting place for some physicians we can always hope beermeyers wife will transfer and drag his nazi butt with her.
So the cases are sent to Des Moines……. but there will be no cases because there is no one there at city Hall to take the cases themselves. How can you send what you do not have? Welcome to Bookmeyersville, USA.
The poor need to take care of themselves, bad decisions, drugs, laziness, uneducated, generations of losers=POOR, these days!!
I do not believe that all “poor” are drug addicts, or lazy, or uneducated. Certainly they should all strive to take care of themselves, but it’s not easy to garner that education when you have to struggle to pay for food. It’s not easy to motivate yourself when you don’t know how you are going to pay your rent. I have a much greater respect for folks who grow up poor and start with nothing, than I do for sniveling snot nosed punks like you who choose to insult and degrade rather than try to help lift someone up.
I’ll bet u my last nikel that Eric and most of his council believe that all “poor” are drug addicts, or lazy, or uneducated.
Knownothing, first of all you assuming moron, I’m middle aged and come over and and I’ll kick your ass all over my yard and show ya punk. I was from a single parent family, just Mom. We had nothing but never got or wanted a dime from anyone. I have helped plenty of people to get of their asses. I gave them jobs, got them jobs, mentored them in smart decisions and attitudes and helped them with the ability to live a productive life. Gave them rides to and from works if they had no transportation etc. I never gave them money without the absolute understanding it had to be paid back quickly. At this point this country has 16 states that have more people on welfare than work. Thats all a belief by a bleeding hearts, naive, do gooders , like yourself and all liberal terds accomplishes, along with bankrupting this country, demoralizing hard working moral people and making a bunch of losers and abusers out the poor and undermining everything conducive to making this a great place to live. How flukin stupid can you be?!!
Did I hurt your poor feelings? I would say I’m sorry, but that would be a lie. I actually believe your story… that atrocious grammar backs it up.
I need your address if you really want me to visit your front yard.