By Matt Marquardt –
The state of Iowa’s largest and most-respected newspaper has exposed even more sinister and diabolical shenanigans by Mason City Mayor Eric Bookmeyer and revealed the depth of his bullying ways.
Many in the community are still processing this information written by the esteemed reporter Rekha Basu. I was happy to assist in the creation of this masterpiece Rekha wrote. I made sure she understood that Alex Kuhn was not the only victim of Eric Bookmeyer’s in this town. Alex and I spoke regularly on the phone; we didn’t always agree and we butted heads a few times, but we had some things in common and got along well. I still have the last phone message he left for me, saved on my phone just a few weeks before he passed away. One thing we had in common is a nemesis named Eric Bookmeyer – a man who evidently will stop at nothing to get his way, and when he doesn’t, he will make you pay, many times using the most cowardly, vile tactics he can dream up.
What is clear from Ms. Basu’s article is that Eric Bookmeyer is a man with way too much time on his hands, and as the Bible says, idle hands do the devil’s work. And do the devil’s work, Eric Bookmeyer clearly did, and with vigor. Those of us in this small community who opposed his ideas, methods, whatever, found out that this man will get you. Here is a tiny sampling of Eric’s work:
Eric’s attacks against me began within 2 weeks of the launch of this site (October of 2010) and never stopped. Empowered by his influential cronies in the Chamber, the Country Club, the Globe Gazette, and city hall, Eric did his worst to drive me out of business. Those who know me understand what this guy did, how he did it, over the weeks, months and years this site has been in existence. Only now, as I sit in my brand new headquarters and sift through these paragraphs constructed in Des Moines is it clear this man is pretty much powerless to bring me down. He is a minuscule, tiny little tyrant whose time in office won’t end soon enough.
In the story, it was written “The mayor bullied Alex relentlessly.” Eric Bookmeyer tried this with me, but for much longer. Difference is, I can take a punch (or ten dozen). Then, I hit back – again, and again, and again. He called me relentless. He now knows that first hand.
The blame shouldn’t stop with Eric Bookmeyer.
If you supported Eric Bookmeyer at anytime in the past, surely by now after the bombshell story in today’s Des Moines Register, you are feeling downright dirty? Maybe you even feel delusional? Did you write this man a check? Did you support his campaigns? Maybe you even helped smear and bully some of his opponents over the years? Did you besmirch your property with his campaign sign?
These people helped Eric Bookmeyer get elected in 2013.
These are the people who have contributed financially to Eric Bookmeyer: Mayor Eric Bookmeyer’s full list of campaign contributions received and also here.
As John F. Kennedy said, “Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.”
All this being said, these dark days are now in the past. As we move forward, it’s clear Eric Bookmeyer will go down in infamy in Mason City history. His legacy will be one of a bully – possibly a deranged lunatic put in power by greedy small business owners, landlords, drunks and crackpot opinion writers at the Globe Gazette who might be members of the shady local Chamber of Commerce, the Country Club, the “circles of influence” the mayor brags about infiltrating. He will be a punchline for years and years to come.
The past is the past, and now is now. And now, Eric Bookmeyer should resign immediately. Of course he won’t; we know this. In Ms. Basu’s story he says “we were all bullied” as if HE is a victim.
Write your council persons. Demand they take action. Heck, write to the mayor at mayor@masoncity.net and demand this creep leave office – now. You can still make a difference.
