Readers,
Have to reference an article that was written by John Skipper in Monday’s Globe.
He says something unusual is happening due to Bob Amosson retiring. This is very true!
Although it has been public knowledge for some time about Bob’s retiring, what the little known part is of “their” hand picked successor! I’ll give you one clue–this candidate has relationship ties with a select few.. for example, the Blodgett family. One who thinks he is sooo powerful in Clear Lake and has money. Although I personally have no hate or dislike for Casey Callanan–I do hate all the “behind the scenes BS” that goes on with this group. I’m guessing you can figure out the rest. So far, there are FIVE candidates and I believe they should ALL equally be heard. Because as John states–“what a golden opportunity for some fresh ideas.”
We need just that! Still believe that we could do better here in Cerro Gordo County. Would really love to see development come to the Avenue/65 area. Also along 35. Lets not forget our smaller communities that struggle to stay alive either.
Oh and than there are the much needed road and bridge improvements in the rural areas of the County. This is particularly hard for the average citizen when the population is more metro in our County. You have to go see to believe!
I’d like to hear answers from each candidate on their thoughts for moving our County forward.
Personally, I commend Bob for his professionalism in the public light. And the ability to see that it was time to step aside and let fresh faces and ideas enter the arena.
As John stated, Jay’s been there since 1988 ! And the Other UN-advertised facts are WHO makes up the Compensation Board that gives the pay raises? Well let’s see, Tom Jolas-good friend of Jay’s, lunch buddies—then there’s Tim LaPointe who is in the same party and Jay’s Campaign-Chair. Oh and than there’s John Stone who is Chairman of the Democratic Party and friends with both Jay and Phil. Get the point??
I have NO PROBLEM with our other elected officials getting the raises that they have earned in their full-time positions. They work for it hourly, daily!! And I’m very impressed with their work.
Appreciate the article John. Just wish you’d put more into them.
Sincerely
Chris Watts
Mr Watts your right here is how Blodgett’s do it is with money, Gary writes checks makes sure his guys has money. Then there is his crack head son who is a Nazi money launder that has been in jail. I seen he use to work for Lee Attwater this was a evil Republitard ruins people to win. Then there is the money. Ok look what old Doc done to you in the last one, you would of beat Dougherty so Blodgett mails all them letters they say if Watts wins your taxes goes up. Then there is the money. People I have heard about Doc’s black sheep son the dope smoker he is drinking buddys with Jay Turd-all. Then there is the money. Ok so Turd-all he tells Toddy boy all the shit they use this to beat people with. Then there is the money oh did I say there is the money.
LOL!!!
What is going on here is just awful!
Why don’t we start right now and band together and VOTE ALL INCUMBENTS OUT!!!!
We talked about this at Lincoln school Tuesday night. At the caucus. Remember Joe Lapointe, and Mike Dunn? They ran against Gary Blodgett, lost. Then John Jaszewsky went up against doc’s hand picked choice to take his seat in the Iowa House, John lost. Gary paid for that one, lined up big money, put Roger Broers in. John almost made it, I helped him, we thought he would win right up to the very end. Blodgett stopped Watts on that petition thing and he helped Phil Dougherty beat him last time for supervisor. And we all know old doc helps Urdahl, who is nothing but a fake Democrat in the first place. Jay is just out for Jay, got in, stays in on Blodgett money. I will not vote for Callanan but he is probably the next supervisor.
Yep.
What this board needs is 5 members. Not 3. Change the CG board of supervisors to 5 members now!
Well, we do know that ALL Empires FALL !!!
I am very happy this is true so my kids won’t have to deal with the heartless souls that truely believe they control the people of Mason City. Let em think that. They can’t control anything really.
Figments of their vivid imaginations which is easy in this town. No brains required (at this time) for any position around here. From the mayor to Urdahl..they would be eaten alive some place that really has work to do. They couldn’t make the cut….ever.
Oh and the Blodgetts……I shiver thinking of their nonsense. Won’t last.
I am inclined to have an opinion similar to yours. Take Eric Bookmeyer, for instance. A man who was arrested and charged in Clinton for harassing public officials and consuming God-only-knows how much booze. Follows his wife everywhere she moves and cashes her checks, now he cashes checks from the people of Mason City even as he ridicules and belittles them. More or less the man is a true virus who has spread himself from Nebraska to Iowa to Minnesota and back again. Played second fiddle to his meal ticket wife till he got here, now he gets the corner office at City Hall. In any city that matters in Iowa with a pulse (MC does not have one) Eric would be a drunk leaning on the end of a pool table in a sleazy bar cracking jokes about how he swam for the Luther College swim team in his glory years.
I hope your right, I never would of thought Blodgett would beat any Democrat when he run back in the day, this is a Democratic town. The way you think is like old doc want’s you to, he get’s his jerkoff’s in keeps them in because people talk like you. We will not beat him and them he give money to until we see this for what it is. I want you to be right how he will not last then he does.
@ Wayne, doc stopped Mr Watt’s petition to help us get more supervisers too, I will not forget. Nobody gets money from Blodgett’s gets my vote.
Agree, Monica!!!
Just finished reading the nicely written article here. Than I read the blogs. While I blog myself, I try and stick to the subject. I respect all that I read here, but the real issue doesn’t sound like it’s being addressed. Any ideas on how we can get BOTH Board’s changed here? This just doesn’t feel good at all!
How is it that WE allow this to happen? Why are we voting them in over and over? Is it because of the new Industry that they haven’t brought to town?
Or as Watts states, because of the poor bridges and roads in the country?
I saw proof of his accusations this last Summer. I’d suggest giving him the doubt and checking it out yourself. Worse than I thought!
But than–lets vote ourselves more raises!!
@Mystified-I never said I like the current bunch at all because I don’t I think they have been in there way to long and need to be replaced. I take exception that Dr. Blodgett is the root of all of our problems. He has some friends but certainly doesn’t control all of the voters. For that idiot Retired NIACC to carry on like he does shows me he has a personal vendetta and is use this forum to get even. I hate cowards that spout off behind someone’s back when you just know damn good and well they don’t have the guts to stand in front of them and say that kind of shit.
I’m new to the paper and I’m having trouble understanding something from the comments here. Why would a Republican stalwart be funding the campaigns of Democratic supervisors? Thanks to everyone for their opinion.
@ Mediator, the reason is that Dr. Gary Blodgett is a very controlling man who likes to have his way. He supplies money to politicians, including Democrats he can influence and manipulate, for their campaigns. Another part of the problem with this family of wealthy neo-Nazis is old doc’s son who is a drug addicted gun nut. Doc and his money-laundering problem child attach a price tag to everything, including people. He bought two of his adult children jobs in Reagan’s White House and bought himself a seat in the Iowa Legislature, and a federal appointment from his fellow Republican, Bush. These are selfish rightwingnutcases who like having their way, and they do not care who gets run over in the process.
@Mediator-What that Old Liar NIACC is saying is just a out and out lie. I hope to hell that Todd Blodgett or his family read this and decide to do something about this guy. All he does is shoot off his mouth with absolutely no substance whatsoever. I don’t know why he never talks about the $400,000 that was saved by not having Cris put in hi wet dream of two more supervisors. I like Chris but he didn’t think his proposal through and then of course lying to people didn’t help his cause either. When you make an agreement you should stick to it.
Appreciate your position LVS. But I know Chris, and believe me, there was more to the retracting the petition to change the Board make-up than the public will probably know.
I agree that there should have been a change from 3 to 5. But John Skipper, Jay Urdahl & Blodgett blew it all out of proportion and those that donated money to fight the petition, never understood it. Skipper LIED in his article. Chris’s suggestion would actually have saved the taxpayers of the County money right out of the gate. I’d suggest you meet Chris yourself and let him explain to you.
I dispute you, adding 2 more supervisors would of caused an increase. Comp bd, Iowa code would not of let us divide into 5 what we pay the 3 in there now. No I am not a Republican but Gary Blodget was right on that, I am glad he won.
I believe I followed this issue quite closely. There would have been NO increase because the proposal was to take the current three salaries–total them and divide by 5.
Because they are currently over-paid for the part time position they hold.
Example, say 50,000.00 for the three current Supervisors. The plan would have been to total that, making it 150,000.00—and than divide by 5. Hence making the new salaries 30,000.00.
No cost increase here. But hopefully gained a better, more responsive Board with the ability to talk openly with one other–there by being within the Iowa code for Open Meeting law violations that they were in violation of before.
Plus strip them of the Insurance benefits-automatic savings here. If they wanted them, they could pay like anyone of us do.
I researched this concept with another local official at the Courthouse when it was first brought up. They said it had merit also.
@following-what part of it can’t be done because of Iowa law did you miss. And that 400K cost was only the start. Then you have to have office space, administrative help, expense cost, Urdahl’s alone cost a fortune now you can triple it. The 400K become 600K the second year. You people should really learn to research the facts before spouting off. Then of course you have two more politicians coming up with all kinds of goofy ideas that will cost even more money.
@Anonymous-Read what another anonymous says. Weaver also knew about this. When you make an agreement you stick with it or you lose.
@ blister and wolf nobody said nothing about no super powers Blodgett’s have, where did you get that. Gary keep’s putting his money in to these people that makes problems for the workers, he only help the 1% just like Niacc says. Old doc he raises all this big money for Urdahl and Dougherty and them I bet he will do the same thing for this Callahan kid that use to work for him down to the Capitol.
Wow!!
Seems like this article, coupled with the Globe’s sketchy article—would insight some of the reader’s here to demand some positive changes. How long are we going to tolerate ‘their’ crooked-ness?
Your right Claude all the way.
How about Che Guevara knuckleheads? Bring him back from thee dead.
You keep touting this high school wrestling match competition of the fittest as being somehow beneficial to the masses of people? Show me the benefit? How do everyday citizens benefit from some rich guy owning and sitting on vital community land areas? How does that add to the social aspect and quality of life aspect for North Iowans to be driving by empty warehouses and large tracts of unused land because some rich family or farmer, or real estate mogul is sitting on them “waiting for the right price”? Decades have gone by in North Iowa, and greedy capitalist men have proven a few things: 1. Private ownership of land by greedy men with no community values and no vision leads to stagnancy and degradation of community growth. 2. City Councils that form to protect the value of greedy men with no vision degrades and stifles the community.
Good Socialism at about 50% along with responsible capitalism 50% is the real formula that it takes to have what constitutes a good community, or even better using the stupid Des Moines term “A Great Place”.
Exploitative Capitalism has perverted itself to the level that it trades with Communist China and exploits their poor, because the quality of life got too good over here in America for them to exploit our own. But they’d like to if they could.
None of that matters at this stage in the game. The only thing that matters is getting control of social uses of land, and doing positive things for the people to immediately improve their quality of life…air, soil and water quality, and interesting healthy things for them to do recreationally, and most importantly to END THE WAR AGAINST THEM, by eliminating the Drug War in its entirety.
If someone has a problem with a substance, and it is causing tangible harm, sentence them to drug rehab centers…not prison.
You’ll never convince (or fully oppress for that matter) humans such as myself, that allowing poisons such as alcohol or unhealthy junk food, along with deadly and debilitating pharmaceuticals is okay, and putting people in prison for a plant is justified.
And,enough about the Blodgett’s. On and on ad nauseum…. Perception is reality– the only reason people keep promoting the theory that Doc and Todd have these super powers. If anyone had power, it was the wife/mother Sandy Blodgett… Doc is old, Todd is sick and mom has turned a blind eye…works for them.
@ Blisterpak, I did not say the Blodgetts possess any super powers. I said they are One percenters, and neo-Nazis. Then there is their spoiled, black sheep of a son who is a drug addicted money launderer who served time in multiple jails. From what I have read on this site Toddy Boy is also a gun nut who has started fistfights in bars, usually loses, and then gets thrown out. Dr. Blodgett supports Jay Urdahl and throws his money around to install candidates who only care about the One percent. Therefore, they are evil.
Why would Casey Callanan want this type of job– out of character for someone of this ilk… And, it may be part time, but part time at at least 32 hours. Why leave a higher paying job to consider this for about $ 46,000. This doesn’t make sense??? Any ideas people???
Uh, probably because he’s going to keep both jobs, and give only marginal time as a Supervisor…yet still collect the paycheck of course.
And it’s not about the money, duh…it’s about the ability to control real estate, county lands, and make development decisions for your pals in construction and real estate…much like papa Mike C. and the boys do over there at the 1960 is too old so we need 1.4 million dollars for a new city hall building City Council in Clear Lake.
Isn’t there a law, or if nothing else-ETHICS, regarding the Compensation Board and the relation to the Supervisors?
I too think this stinks!!
The Iowa Code outlines the rules for members of the Compensation Board. If you check that out, you will see how it works…
I think the suggestion that Todd or Gary have control on the elected to do their bidding is highly overblown.
The wife just said a good one, she says BOS mean Board of Supervisers not Blodgett’s own stooge’s.
LMAO ROTF!!!!!! Hahahahahahaha Good one!!!!!!
This Op-Ed highlights the urgency for the 99% to stand up to the One percent. If Dr. Blodgett’s personal choice wins, it will mean victory for the One percent. One Republican should not be able to exercise this much influence over even one Supervisor, let alone all three.
He has influence because he is right and they want him to have that influence. One person can not control all of this and it sure looks like you are just trying to blame him for your own shortcomings. It is all you know how to do is badmouth the Blodgett’s. They must have really stuck in in you at some time. I for one do not believe anyone who insults and backstabs someone, and I don’t even know Dr. Blodgett. It would sure be nice to know all of the real story instead of what you think happened.
I second this.
Most city people don’t know what goes on at the county level, they think that it doesn’t concern them. Sure wouldn’t want an outsider in the “good ol boys club”. Birds of a feather, flock together.
agreed.
Good article Chris your right about the Blodgett’s. You would of beat Dougherty last time up till old doc mail’s out all these letters this was to scare people dumb ones in to voting for Phil. Stop Dr. 1% this time we do not want Gary to put his guy in.
I agree, good article. But I simply find it amazing that thru the years Max was representing the average citizen of Mason City–that Skipper looked, scratched and dug until he could twist an article out of it–against Max.
BUT, somehow when it comes to his buddies, like the Supervisor’s here, he purposely omits KEY facts that all the taxpayers should be aware of. Bad reporting John!!
I find it totally surprising that John Skipper purposely omits these facts that the public should be aware of. I would think there should be an UNBIASED BOARD making compensation recommendations! Come on John, why don’t you try being a reporter for a change?
Skippy is not a reporter, he is a paid mouth piece for Bookie that is why.
I personally would like to see Chis Watts as a supervisor. It is certainly time for a change but I doubt it will happen. People will sit on their dead butts and not get out and vote. They bring it on themselves.
Casey Callanan? Callanan’s father currently sits on the Clear Lake City Council. If it’s Callanan I definitely agree. He is undoubtedly plugged into the local “Good Old Boys Club” through his father Mike. An expansion of power coming out of Clear Lake would be really bad for common people in Cerro Gordo county. There is so much that can be done at the Supervisor level that sets the stage for land use and zoning to either promote the local green renewable sustainable model, or continue on with unadulterated rich man’s business as usual…corporatocracy. Will they open up the land for the people to gain benefit from? Not with Callanan, that’s for sure. And probably not with any of the other candidates as well. VOTE NONE OF THE ABOVE (NOTA) or find some revolutionary candidate to cast your vote for to make a statement against the establishment.
The only problem is, there are no “revolutionary candidates” and if you were to move to Colorado, all hope would be lost for us to ever have one.
Unless of course you were to stay in Clear Lake so you could be Chief of Police and a part-time County Supervisor….
Buzz, how’d you get so darn good at making me laugh? My caricature you portray should make me mad, but I have to laugh, because it’s funny. Are you a comic book artist by chance? Because I would love to star in my own Comic Book series.
Yes, I am afraid you are right, so right.