(luther.edu)
MASON CITY – Mayor Eric Bookmeyer has nominated two of his campaign donors for appointment to the Mason City Airport Board.
The Mason City council at its meeting to be held on Tuesday, September 16 will decide on the appointments of Marti Rodamaker and Gary Wattnem. The council gives final approval to appointments made by the mayor.
Rodamaker – a banker – and Wattnem – a consultant – have both contributed to Bookmeyer’s mayoral campaigns and both were on his re-election committee last year. Both are also known to heavily lobby in Washington DC. Wattnem, last year, lobbied for a pipeline to be constructed and Rodamaker wrote a nasty email to the FDIC “to express [her] outrage” about fees her bank (First Citizens) would be required to pay for FDIC insurance.
Wattnem’s appointment is a renewal, and Rodamaker is taking the place of an elderly woman who fell out of favor with the Mayor after a disagreement over his involvement in the board’s business.
Are the proposed new members pilots, or at least knowledgeable about aviation, as it seems the incumbents are?
Matt, I have a bone to pick.
Have you seen or spoken to Joni Dunn in person? When you call her “elderly” it does her an injustice. She may be in her mid-seventies but the term “elderly” invokes images of someone with a cane or walker and about nine decades under his/her belt.
Sorry, but I have a real problem with you referring to Joni as “elderly”. She looks many years younger than her actual age and has boundless energy.
@JMO-Just to clarify, lots of people who are not elderly also walk with canes or walkers due to illness. Age is jus a number. I do not know the lady but I do agree that Matt should have used a different term. I believe that he was trying to point out that the mayor has stated he is against anyone he considers older. (Sorry Matt, don’t mean to put words in your mouth).
LVS, that’s why I entered the statement about having at least nine decades under his/her belt. I know people of any age may use a cane or walker.
I agree that Matt was trying to bring attention to the age difference between Dunn and Rodamaker. I just had a problem with Dunn being referred to as “elderly”. She’s anything but.
JMO-I am sure you are right, although I do not know the lady. I am sure Matt meant no disrepect. Most young people think of us elderly when we reach our late 60’s or 70’s. Everyone is different. I know some people that were old when they were 35 and some that are still young when they are 90. Age is just a number you know.
I understand this point. To teens, I, myself am elderly. I’m 41 and my kid calls me “old man” once in awhile; it’s a badge of honor. Let’s not get too politically correct here, it’s part of the problem in this country.
@Berkah About Gary Wattnem,go to this page.
http://www.sdstate.edu/msl/alumni/distinguished/wattnem.cfm Not mentioned in this earlier bio is that he was selected as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics at the Pentagon in 1999. He retired in 2004. Are you implying that he is not qualified and was appointed only because he made a campaign donation? Think again.
Wow that WAttnem is a piece of work. He is mean. But, he is a buddy of the mayor. This just gets sicker by the appointment..
I wouldn’t say he’s “mean”. He’s a very accomplished military officer who has worked very hard and has been given countless promotions and awards. He had to know how to give orders in his profession. Having said this, he loves his booze and he loves his power. Remind you of anyone else?
More donors being appointed to committee’s to make sure he controls everything. It will just make more to fire when he gets impeached.