MASON CITY – According to insiders at city hall, John Groninga appears to be Mayor Eric Bookmeyer’s choice to fill the city council seat left behind by the late Alex Kuhn.
City hall insiders tell NIT that Mayor Eric Bookmeyer and/or city hall is very likely to make the announcement in coming days. This temporary appointment would have to be approved by the city council and would only be valid until an election could be held, potentially this year. There was no word as to whether Groninga would be a part of any election, if one is held.
John Groninga currently is listed as a member of the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission until 2018. That board – with no publicity – approved the re-zoning of a tract of farmland on the city’s south side to “heavy industrial”, paving the way for the possibility of Prestage Foods building a gigantic hog slaughtering plant there. That proposal failed, miserably, on every level.
John Groninga, a long-time Mason City educator, has taught students at Mason City High School and NIACC since about 1970. Groninga, a liberal Democrat, was elected to represent Mason City and surrounding communities in the Iowa House of Representatives in 1982. He served 5 terms and eventually lost to Merlin Bartz in 1992, as the pair faced off for a state Senate seat vacated by Alvin Miller. Groninga lost handily to Bartz. Vacating his House seat to challenge Bartz allowed Mason City orthodontist Dr. Gary Blodgett to capture the seat left behind by Groninga.
According to county auditor Ken Kline, the Mason City Council cannot call for a special election to fill the vacancy to be held with the general (Presidential) election to be held in November, as the timing does not meet the 90-day Code requirement. Alex Kuhn’s death was July 15, thereby vacating the seat.
In previous conversations, Auditor Kline has said, “Who would object?” to putting the vacancy on the general election ballot, as the voter participation would be much greater, and there would be no cost to the City.
“In talking with various people, I have heard and believe that putting the vacancy on the general election ballot could – and likely will – open the election results to a contest (possible lawsuit and challenge to the results),” Auditor Kline explained. “So, as much as I might prefer and believe the public would benefit from doing so, I retract my offer to approve a special election to be held concurrently with the November general election.
“In order to comply with the 90-day requirement, the Council can call for a special election on any Tuesday beginning September 6th through October 11th. It would be much better for (the Auditor’s office), and more importantly, much better for voters, if we avoid holding a special election on either of the first two Tuesdays in October. In other words, I would urge the Council to pick any Tuesday in September.”
Is that yello snow?
Someone always on the take!
Could you get a recent picture of him? That one is at least 25 years old.
Groniga has way to much slime on him to take this job, he has got to many skeleton’s in his closet, if you know what I mean. If he takes it, then go get somebody to run against him like nobody ever did. Groniga is cocky this can be one of his un-doing’s. Ok, he wants to be Blimpmeyers bitch, then just bring it all out, it is there. There is alot of ways to get beat him down. Go get him.
The people get the representation that most reflects who they are as a people. Change your culture first, and stop worrying about ‘leaders’.