MASON CITY – Republican contender Shawn Dietz, vying for the Iowa Senate seat for District 27, has added a big name to his ticket.
The Dietz campaign announced today the addition of former State Representative and former Mason City Mayor Bill Schickel to the campaign team. Dietz says that Schickel will be working alongside campaign chairwoman Barbara Hovland in an advisory role for the duration of the campaign.
“It’s a great honor to have Bill on board to help with our campaign,” Dietz said in making the announcement. “He’s been a mentor to me in both my personal and professional life, and I’m very pleased that he has agreed to help me be successful in my quest to represent the people of the 27th District in the Iowa Senate.”
“I think that Shawn’s message is a bold one, and I know that he will do a fantastic job at being the voice of the people he represents just as he did as Mayor of Hampton,” said Schickel. “I know Shawn has already been working hard throughout this campaign, and I sincerely hope that the people of Mason City take time to get to know him. For our voices to be truly represented in the Iowa Legislature, we must have a Senate Majority that does not hold things up because of partisan differences. Shawn understands what it means to be a public servant, and that’s what we need in the Iowa Senate right now.”
Bill Schickel has a well documented history of public service. Bill was elected by the people of Mason City to serve three terms as Mayor, and was later elected to serve three terms in the Iowa House of Representatives.
Dietz is facing incumbent Democrat Amanda Ragan in the November election.
Vote Dietz !!
Anyone notice the common thread between Steve King and the Mason City Mayor and city council candidates from last fall? ALL REFUSE TO DEBATE THEIR OPPONENTS.
That’s what cowards do.
Count Gary Hugi as one of those cowards. He refused to debate in last November’s Clear Lake City Council Election. He rode the Republican machine into victory. COWARD!
Why would he want to debate with someone like you??
@ Phil somebody better bust up this Republitard machine that them has rode to victory before its to late. Gary gets his favorite’s so much money there is no debates. Look at all doc pulled in against Watts when he stops Chris, from getting us more supervisers. All that big money Blodgett gets for Urdahl now this Callahan, use to work for him. Doc, he rounds up the big checks for Braindead to, King to, Dougherty. Seen it wrote up here and on the Globb, we are fools to take this off him.
@ Lehigh, have you any suggestions? Between Dr. Blodgett and his wealthy friends, and his drug-addicted black sheep of a son who learned his Republitard campaign tricks from Ronald Raygun and Lee Atwater, this family of fascists install their choices. It is sheer foppery to think any change shall likely come any time soon. Callanan will win, as will King, and Branstad. All Jay and Dougherty need do to ensure plentiful campaign funds is stay on doc’s good side. Farewell, lovely democracy…
Vote Dietz and Callahan. You will have an honest government. Nothing you liberals would understand.
@ laker you want to take it back your going to just have to wait till old Doc kick’s the bucket, for him to give up his control. Long as Gary and Todd do this they will keep at it,
get their guys in.
Vote Dietz !!!
See alot on here on my old buddy Todd Blodgett. Ok this story is suppose to be on Schickel him trying to help Deitz. Not Todd. Anyways Todd is a real sore looser, don’t like losing at nothing good thing for Amana Ragan he sit’s this one out. NIACC your not no expert on Todd, got your head up your ass. Todd has a good side, he is just fear full he never can measure up to the old man. TB plays crazy, all his BS pulling guns, on people ect. that shit, that is what it does come down to.
@ Listen excuse me I don’t give a rat’s about Todd Blodgett or Marybeth, or who ever. This is about Bill Shickel and Shawn Dietz, really people.
@Terri-why don’t you say the samething to Retarded NIACC and that dumb A## Laker Forever?
Todd don’t sugar coat nothing he is straight up, not like them politicans tells you one thing to your face, than do the other. Your saying he is racist that is bullshit. Bet Blogett has got more friends that is black and brown, then all you hater’s say he is prejidice. Far I know Todd never shot nobody. Your the hater’s.
Yep.
Thanks to people like Amanda, we can all still voice our cpinons, since free speech is still a right.
I am ok with the comments and I will not dignify them with retaliatory comments.
Have a great day!!
I know Mary Beth and for u haters, she is an awesome woman. She has done more for this community than any of you. The list is a mile long. From starting the first homeless shelter, to keeping Curries from leaving town, to the successful local option tax campaigns, to raising over a million dollars for the community’s youth and there is more. What have any of u done lately.
I am thankful for Mary Beth she is not afraid to challenge and her heart is as bid as all outdoors.
@taco-I too know Mary Beth and she is a nice lady. We do not always agree about politics but I do respect her opinion. Besides, if Jodi Draper likes her that makes her O.K. with me.
I see down there Mary Beth Greenan is for Amanda Ragan. Good to know, now I know to vote against her. Nice how these blogs work.
Marybeth means well, but some times she costs us Democrats more votes then she gets for us. Like now.
Some times, don’t you mean all the time. She does us more harm then good! Just ask John Stone.
Keep saying it !!! Amanda is a proud Obama democrat!!
Vote Dietz Who is NOT a Obama Democrat!!
You got it I will tell everybody I know this Democrap woman is worse then Obama and Hilary rolled into one. I seen Amanda Ragan on the TV a couple years ago, this is about health care. Amanda and Steckman, they was crowing, oh how great this is this crap Obama put over on us. Its pay back time Amanda, you should loose alot of votes on count of how you crowed about how great this Obama care was suppose to be. Your wrong honey, your boy’s lies cost me money. Vote out this Obama lover.
Good to see Dietz advertize here, look’s like lot’s of politicians don’t relize us NIT folks pay the Globb no mind. I have not looked at the Globb since NIT has been out, but once to read a obit for my old neighbor. Until I saw these ad’s for Mr Dietz I had not paid hardly any mind to this race at all. These ad’s made me read up on this young man, who I will vote for. Glad to know now that Ragan gloated about Obamacare. This is a big reason to get her liberal butt out.
Amanda is a proud Obama Democrat who cares about poor people. Based on what 9th & North Adams said, I am thankful that Gary Blodgett is not taking an active role in the Dietz campaign. Democracy in north Iowa is endangered when wealthy Republicans and their rich friends buy elections. Dr. Blodgett apparently bought his own elections, and those of Urdahl, Roger Broers, and many others. He is now trying to elect his former intern, Casey Callanan, to our Board of Supervisors. Vote Democrat.
Never voted for doc, went to MCHS with Todd. My 2 cent’s, Ragan is real lucky she don’t have somebody going against her that is in with Todd, he is all about winning. At any cost, every little thing to. TB will do anything, whatever to get his way hates to lose like nobody you ever seen. Then there’s his daddy’s money Gary’s rich friends, all that. Ok you know this Dietz if he would of got Blodgett’s in his corner Amanda Ragan, she would be in something that could not go good for her.
Todd was in alot of fights at Roosevelt, I would say he lost more then won. Got suspended one time, brought a sling shot to school went after a couple boys that kicked his ass before. Shot one in the balls with a steely, before they could take it. Can not believe they let him have conceal carry. He could be nice but when he got mad its like he goes off bat shit crazy. I expect there could be jail time for him some day, people do not change.
@Laker-Bull crap. Ragan is a proven liar just like you.
Vote Dietz and Ernst. Enough of these thumb sucking liberals !!
So what if Dietz is Tea party. Amanda Ragan is a professional politician that gets two pay checks from my taxes. If you do not like what Dietz’s T-shirts say, just go over and look at what some the T-shirts say that get wore at community kitchen. I bet being Hampton mayor does take alot of time. Do you think Ragan would of run for the state senate if it paid what Dietz got for being mayor, I doubt it. One pay check from my taxes is enough for Amanda, I say we give Shawn Dietz a shot.
Amanda Ragan will win… hands down!
More like hands out Marybeth. Democrats do nothing for working folks, just like the Shirley lady says. There for the welfare people them that wants there grubby hand’s on my money, everbody that pay taxes support them scum. Some these people got 3, 4 kids they live in Sect 8 on food stamp, medicade, free legal, the whole 9 yards. Democrats want them hand out’s for there voters that is how they win. At least Republecans wants to stop this hand out’s. I am for Dietz, I work I pay.
@ Vince, you ignorant, bigoted neanderthals are who elects crypto fascists like Gary Blodgett. Shirley and Paul are equally misguided. Democrats like Amanda and President Obama care about those of us who are not in the One Percent. Republicans, especially wealthy rightwingnuts like Dr. Blodgett, routinely dismiss the concerns of the middle class. Demeaning poor people as scum makes you scum, and a fool. Keep right on being used by the manipulative One Percent, you racist troglodyte.
Amber, your right, the Blodgett boy come to my house when his daddy was up for the vote. Tried to give me a twenty to rent my yard for a sign. He says if it stays up till election there is 20 more. I am union, worked NW cement. Told the spoiled brat to get off my property. He has this giant with him, must of been 6’6″, 300 some lbs. Toddy boy looks over to the whale, he don’t say nothing. Big boy says are you sure. I would of like to spit in both their face, but for the fat blob.
@ ’66, if you had spit in Toddy Boy’s face he probably would of shot you, then paid his buddy off to say you threated him. Our son got into it with Blodgett when they was over to the outer edge, a long ways back. He would of stomped his rich mouthy ass. Todd he pulls a gun puts it in my boy’s face. Thats how he does, this Blodgett is crazy as a loon. Crack head gets away with this shit because his family. Thats why old doc throws the big bucks into all their campaigns don’t you see.
@ Wayne, if any drug-addicted Nazi sympathizer ever pulls a gun on me, I will grab it out of his Republitard hand and shove it where the sun don’t shine.
@ Philosophis, your right I bet, Nelson Crabb flipping on that motorcycle noise. I was at the park over by city dock the day Gary Blodgett got Terry Branstad up here. Old doc he was standing at the dock him shaking hands with everybody walks down. Well here comes Nelson, he come on board right before the Govenor gets there. Mrs. Blodgett is talking to Nelson wife. I seen them two talking I mean Doc and Crabb it could of been about the noise your talking on.
Good to see Mr. Dietz has took out some ad’s here on NIT, some canidate’s ignores us that reads this good sight for our news. Do not know if Shickel will be able to get him elected tho. I will vote for Dietz seen his ad’s, we need new blood down there. I do think if he would of got Dr Blodgett on his campaign when he started Amana Reagan would be real worried about now.
Im a hards working blue coller no-nonsense kind of woman same as my husband we been married over thirty years and we are voting reapublicon for sure this time sinse them democrats never did nothin for us workin folka ll these years. Then I herd them dems support the chamber of commerce anyway they known to hate workin folk like us I just don’t get that so we going over to the right to try somthin new maybe Dietz cares he’ll get our vote you all can count on that.
Marybeth, please just butt out of this. The way you’re going the Republitards should hire you.
I spoke to Nelson Crabb’s next door neighbor who happens to be very good friends with Nelson’s wife, and she told me Nelson and his wife hated the motorcycle noise. She also said that while the noise issue was up for debate, motorcycles were deliberately driving by the Mayor’s house intimidating him by revving up their engines. The next council session he completely flipped and said the noise issue was “a solution in search of a problem”. Something spooked him. What was it?
@ Philosophus, this flip you talk about Mayor Nelson did on motorcycles might of had something to do with Stevie Minert and Todd Blodgett. If it was it would not be the first time them two has played a Mayor.
Yes, a connection exists beneath it all. At the time, I was perplexed; it made no sense. The Council was poised to act in a reasonable manner to safeguard citizens against loud menacing tailpipes bothering us in our homes…then all of a sudden it flipped and was dropped like a sack of potatoes. Ron and Steve Minert, Harley Davidson, the $100,000 giveaway by MC, Todd Blodgett, The Country Club, Dr. Blodgett, The OP’s bike night, Jim Boehnke….
Since Todd Blodgett got back here this is after his wife dumped him, after Obama put the Republitard’s out, things has gone down hill here. Look what has happen to our politics. All that big money his daddy gets for his stooges become even more. Sleazy deals like out to the country club favors for Toddy boy’s rich buddys old doc’s cronys winning all the time. They rig the system like nobody else ever. Lee Atwater & Ronnie Raygun taught Toddy boy real good, now it pollute’s our politics.
@Union-You are so typical of union people, an idiot.
I think Mrs. Ragan has been in too long, time to give somebody new a chance. The ad here for Shawn Dietz says Rand Paul is for him, we like that. We are going to vote for Mr. Dietz. He is a fresh face and we like Senator Paul.
Ragan has been down there way too long, time for her to go. Dietz has got a tough road ahead though, Amanda gets the credit for feeding all them Democraps with our money. Looks like she goes back for second’s and third’s alot to. Think of all the election’s Republican would win if not for all them welfare eaters pigging out on us, they breed there kids with our money. It makes me sick don’t it you.
Bill will not make no difference Ragan still wins I bet. Some politicians they think their name turns votes, well ok name me one Republitard that makes any diffrence, decide election’s around here. Now you see.
What you never hear of Gary Blodgett. Your wrong. Chris Watts would of won till that old Republitard mails them letters said your tax goes up if Watts gets in. Doc put Urdahl in, keeps him there. With money. The Callahan kid he use to work for Gary I bet he wins to, Blodgett give him the big bucks. Me and the wife was helping John Jasheski he run against Brores, John would of won was a good year for us the Democrats. Doc he turns on his money machine Brores got in. Bad and sad but true.
Yep the Blojett money machine churns out the wins I think if Deitz went over n shook doc’s hand and asked for some cash Ragun would be in for a real tussle this being a republican year and all.
@ Lehigh, democracy has taken a loathsome beating in this county at the fascist hands of Dr. Blodgett and his rich friends. That rightwingnut has done the same thing here at the lake, from our mayor on down. Control freaks like him are a danger to a free society. Doc throws around obscene amounts of money and inordinate influence to fool uneducated voters. Republitards are the party of ignorance and greed, so Gary takes advantage to whatever extent he wants to get his zombies elected.
@ King, its too late now for Dietz to win he is just too far back I think. If he would of got Blodgett in his corner a way’s back why yes, Ragan would be in big problems at this time. I agree tho Lehigh old doc should not get to pick, who we get. We are suppose to all be equal no boss Hog’s around here.
Zombies is a good way to describe the Clear Lake government. They have a hollow look on their faces as you approach them to speak. IT’s as if none of what you say matters, because everything presented needs to be taken back to a mystery controller for clearance. Perhaps Blodgett is this man behind the curtain? I’ll never forget watching Nelson Crabb do an ‘about-face’ on the noise issue, when previously he found it reasonable to put in safeguards. That could have been Blodgett?
@ Phil, the obscene amounts of money Gary Blodgett raises for his favored candidates threatens democracy. Unfortunately for those of us who are not in the one percent, Doc’s choices always get elected. Him having one vote is not the point. Dr. Blodgett plucked a part time UPS box sorter (Jay Urdahl) out of obscurity and bought his way on to our Board of Supervisors all those years ago. Gary uses his money and that of his rich friends to control politics in Clear Lake and in our county.
@ Phil, Dr. Blodgett’s defenders can make all the excuses in the world, but old Doc wields inordinate influence in getting his cronies elected. His money and the money he raises are only one part of Gary’s modus operandi. When Chris Watts tried to help us get two more Supervisors, the Globb and the Clear Lake paper ran Blodgett’s Op-Ed columns against it. Gary used his big money to smother the county with his mailings. We got one. This Republican control freak wants only the rich to rule.
@ Phil, my cousin run against Gary Blodgett for the legaslator. Me and my ex helped the campaign, he should of beat old doc. Just before the election a big bunch of yard signs for Dr. Blodgett pops up in alot of front yards in the north end. Must of been 300 or better. Democrats live there. Come to find out, doc’s son paid some his drinking buddy’s to knock them people’s doors, some even got money to let their yard be used. They called it rent. It was legal but oh soooo sneaky sneaky.
@Union-How typical of a union guy. John would not have won if he was the only one running. You made a bad choice and are to small to admit it. I don’t know Callahan at all but I do know that he got his money from fund raisers not from Dr. Blodgett. I know the guy who helped him raise the money and it didn’t come from the Blodgett’s. You need to quit blaming your bad decisions and candidates on someone else.
@ LVS, I seen the story, old Doc sent a letter raised Callahan about $25,000 dollars. Gary got Urdahl in, keeps him there. Money. Chris Watts would of won last time till Blodgett, he puts out a letter said if Watts wins your taxes goes up. So Doc raises a whole bunch of money for Branstad to, this summer on that big boat at the lake. I am not being against this Dietz I bet he is a good young man. I am saying your wrong, if you think Gary Blodgett dont make sure them he wants to win wins.
@Lehigh-and why is that so different than anyone else including Democrats who support who ever they want to win? Why is that any different than the unions supporting the candidate they think will give them the most by donating millions to help them out? I do not not know Dr. Blodgett or what he thinks but I do get sick of you haters blasting someone you do not even know just because your candidate was defeated. If they were any good they would have won. Blodgett is only one vote.
Because if Dr. Blodgett is acting like a Mafioso Godfather behind the scenes controlling the candidates, then it’s disingenuous to the people when candidates are presented. I would also be opposed to the vice versa situation were it occurring on the Democratic side, or any side for that matter. Clear Lake is under the spell of Fire of Unknown Origin, and whether it’s Blodgett or Buddy Holly, I cannot say for sure.
@Philly-Once again you are full of it. You know nothing about Dr. Blodgett other than the hate comments you have read on here. You are just jumping on the hate wagon like the rest of these idiots. I am surprised at you being a hypocrite like that.
@ Amber you made me think back. We had a Blodgett yard sign out but I did not vote for Gary but my husband did. Heres what I remember, Todd Blodgett his son came to our door, him and some big fat guy, the man looked like he was out on parole. Young Blodgett says we get $20 up front rent if they can put a yard sign, another $20 if it stays up till election day. He made that deal with alot of folks in the north end, it had to of cost Big daddy a whole bunch. This was about 1996 or 98.
LOL