John Lee got punked.
No way around it. A part-time bartender at a downtown wine bar who also happens to report news at the local TV station played the Ward 1 Councilman – bigly.
John Lee recklessly and with apparent forethought handed over a highly-confidential memo about Mason City Fire Chief Al Dyer to a TV reporter. Men that get paid six-figures told him to keep it secret, to protect us, the citizens. John Lee deliberately ignored that sound advice.
“I take full responsibility,” John Lee told the Globe, which is trying to catch up on this story that NIT has been on for nearly a week. “I don’t want anyone else to be blamed … it was just a major screw-up on my part. Call me ignorant and trusting, I guess.”
The truth is, there is no one – yet – to hold John Lee accountable for his action but himself, so he will get away with it. That’s how Mason City works when you are in the club he belongs to. That is, if and until a lawsuit is brought by Mr. Dyer for possible harm done to his “career” – a career that started in his beloved Michigan in a city of 37,000 and then for some reason made its way to rural Mason City, Iowa, population 27,000. A consultant with no web site and no phone number listed anywhere on the Internet made the recommendation to hire him, and the council took the bait. I’d call this sketchy to start with. It might turn out to be a big mistake and reckless, too. But that’s another discussion we will have.
Now, I’m not blaming Brian Tabick from KIMT for any of this. The kid is smooth – at least, way too smooth for John Lee. I really have to wonder, what is the nature of their relationship? Have you seen the video of Tabick chumming it up with John Lee on election night at the courthouse? (Some of it is viewable, below.) It was like a nephew with his favorite uncle after a couple of Keystone Lights. Making funny faces, giggling, cracking jokes while serious election personnel counted ballots. I was waiting for Ole John to give Brian a noggin’ burner or something right there in the hallway. The city’s future hung in the balance, some would say, that night. The “YES” crowd that John Lee practically calls family (he refers to anyone skeptical of his downtown project as “naysayers”) certainly took it that way. But John Lee didn’t show a care in the world that night; he knew the outcome. He and – as he calls them – the “positive, can-do circle” of “YES” folk put in the time and thousands of dollars to make sure things went right. It was all a matter of how high was the ceiling – it was 75% for YES.
John Lee got his tsunami victory that night, and he was riding high. Some say he was beginning to think of himself as the “Big Cheese” in town – untouchable, unbeatable. He taught those evil, dumb “naysayers” a lesson. He and his trusty sidekick Brian Tabick of KIMT were bonding, big time, and John Lee was on top.
But, the invincible John Lee let his guard down. First, he got giddy. Then, he got holier-than-thou. Then he got sloppy. And in the end, he got burned.
Maybe John Lee didn’t know Tabick has other friends – like Al Dyer. They’ve been spotted in a downtown bar getting cozy. Tabick served the drinks and Dyer – well, let’s just say he was there.
Maybe John Lee didn’t know that. I have to wonder, what does John Lee know. What could have possessed him to agree – allegedly in a grocery store – to voluntarily hand over such a confidential memo on a high-ranking city employee to a TV reporter? What was John Lee trying to accomplish?
After the Globe reported that Lee admitted to turning over the memo, I asked Brian Tabick a question: “Brian, got a question for you. I understand you asked John Lee – at a grocery store – for the memo on Fire Chief Dyer. Good work. At what point did John Lee, then, turn over the memo to you? In other words, how much time passed between your question, and him actually handing over the memo to you?”
See, that’s relevant, because unless John Lee had the memo in his pocket, he would have had to retrieve it and give it to Tabick. So, how much time passed between the question and the hand-off? How many hours did John Lee have to contemplate this action? Did he ever think to himself – “Gee whiz. This might just be a bad idea. Even though I want Brian to be my friend, I should probably not – no, I definitely SHOULD NOT – hand this memo over to this TV station reporter.”
He did. And now, the damage is done.
And that brings me back to the whole accountability issue. I bet John Lee holds his students and athletes accountable when they mess up. There is a price to pay for wanton negligence that results in harm. We don’t know, yet, if Al Dyer will take action due to John Lee’s ignorance and reckless behavior that could impact his career. But, judging from the fact that the man is suspended from his job, things don’t look too rosy for him moving forward in Mason City. John Lee said he would accept responsibility for his actions. Therefore, he should resign immediately from the City Council before he does more harm. Furthermore, if Mr. Dyer brings a lawsuit, John Lee should hire his own attorney for his defense and leave the citizens out of the mess he created.
Opinion from Matt Marquardt, citizen of Mason City
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No matter how you try and spin this story, John Lee has no credibility. This is not about the personal matter, this is about a sitting Mason City Councilman purposefully releasing confidential personal information. That is malfeasance and he should be removed from office!!
Malfeasance
The commission of an act that is unequivocally illegal or completely wrongful.
Malfeasance is a comprehensive term used in both civil and Criminal Law to describe any act that is wrongful. It is not a distinct crime or tort, but may be used generally to describe any act that is criminal or that is wrongful and gives rise to, or somehow contributes to, the injury of another person.
No doubt about it – Tabick is on his way to the top! Possibly the next Alex Jones!
KIMT….why aren’t they stating John Lee leaked this memo? Last night’s news cast sounds like they are trying to cover-up for John Lee. Anyone else see the story ? Seems odd to me, even though everyone knows J.L. is the leaker. KIMT…ooops I mean the Rochester news program….. ADIOS
Until they make up a story about what this suspension is about, this is all pretty meaningless. Anyone that had heard about the chief not being at work had already surmised that it was a conduct related leave. John’s breach only confirmed that. Before you condemn him too much, remember, he was one of them that kept the pig plant out of your back yard!
Agreed. Further Matt twisted the non story into a Lee gang bang, its sensational, it earns Marquardt clicks, it pays his rent. Just that simple. And once again the mighty band of NITwits took the bait from Matt the bottom feeder.
You must be one of Lee’s Asbury friends. No harm no foul, eh? As long as you’re not the person whose confidentiality was compromised, right? I wonder what else he disregards in his job and life….hmm… And, he still has not resigned. I hope this man who confidentiality was violated takes him to the cleaners.
You must be one of Dyers Asbury friends. Considering his position and pay scale, I think the citizens have a right to know whats going on.
What the voters of Mason City really need to know is: John Lee don’t represent the people! It really it that simple. People vote for a face, name, or hype that they THINK will represent them. In Lee’s case he is the poorest excuse for a elected official there is. The sooner he is off the Mason City Council the better the community will be.
Totally agree with you for once on this . I questioned the timing issue when initially talked about then actually delivered the memo. He should resign or be escorted OUT.
There’s no way a city employee can sue a city because his disciplinary suspension was recealed to the public. It’s called transparency. These aren’t HIPPA protected medical files we are takking about, and they weren’t court sealed. This is much ado about nothing. John Lee should have openly revealed this to the public when it happened and defied the secret handshake crapola. Brian Tabick aka Wonder Boy is part of the public, so moot point if Lee revealed it to him specifically. The real story is forcing the city to reveal why he was suspended in the first place. Protest city hall til you get them to answer.
You obviously know nothing about contracts or labor laws and rules. The city can and probably will be sued. Personal job history is not public information. Call any employer and ask them about a employee. They will tell you the date of hire and the date terminated and that is all. Anything else and they are liable in court.
If the investigation exonerates the Fire Chief, Lee and the City will probably be sued, and for good reason. At this point, the Chief has only been accused.
I have had 3 discussions with John Lee. All 3 times I came away with the same observation. Everything is about John Lee and John Lee only. The guy is full of himself. well said all I can ad is the “apple” didn’t fall far from the tree.
It’s still weird to think about: that Alex Kuhn took his own life over a pig plant. It’s as if Grod the mind controlling Gorilla worked his powers over the deceased.
Matthew E Marquardt always has been and always be a pussy.
Knock it off Quinn. That crap is getting old. I hope you are hiding well because someone might just be looking for you.
Do tell.
Move your nose, dumb ass!
Just another hater. Means nothing.
I have talked to Quinn Symonds brother Will and found him to be a intelligent, thoughtful young man. Much different than his brother. It is a shame that Quinn is destroying his brother opportunity.
I have had 3 discussions with John Lee. All 3 times I came away with the same observation. Everything is about John Lee and John Lee only. The guy is full of himself. Didn’t know him before he got elected and I don’t care to know him now. Putting out confidential information is pretty typical for Mr. Lee. The fellow is uncouth.
I live in john’s ward that jerk does not go outside the rich part of his ward he should resign and leave town.
Everybody looking for their ten minutes of fame. It’s obvious this Lee guy is not a man of integrity and I would question his morals too. Sad to hear he is teaching our kids. No wonder people home school. He should resign since he can’t be trusted.
A lot of teachers are like that. They think they are better than anyone else.
John Lee made a mistake, potentially a big mistake, in trusting someone he thought he could confide in. Yes, he should have kept the email on his computer and showed nobody. Sh!t happens. Shame on Brian for taking an “off the record” comment and putting it on the record. If he interviewed me wouldn’t give him the time of day.
John Lee admitted his mistake which is much more than most politicians would do. He could have blamed it on his addiction to Boone’s Farm or MD 20/20 that is served at the wine bar.
well spoken, agree completely!
John you played a great role in the prestige hog factory vote by being a cry baby and saying how your daughter talked to you. Man up you cry baby. Put on your big boy undies and get in front of the crowd next council meeting and cry your eyes out while you resign your duties of the first ward. MAN UP
if it wasn’t for that “cry baby” this town would have the death palace, complete with thousands of illiterate, uninsured working poor prestage serfs loading down our schools and public services by now. sure. greedy section 8 slumlords, public defenders and out of county pig farmers missed out on millions of of dollars of free money, but if you’re a regular tax paying mason city resident you need to thank him for saving the town and then just s.t.f.u.
Saving the town. Are you kidding me. We are already have our public school systems infiltrated with people from Chicago and Detroit who are not working and draining the system. They are peddling drugs. Seventy percent of the kids in the public school get free lunches and sixty five percent of the kids are below the states standards in education. The slumlords like Russ Hardy are already making their money off of these people. So what world are you living in.
And? You think the local chapter of Ms-13 would have sent them packing? Maybe, but I like the town fine without bodies floating in the river.
They wouldn’t have been uninsured and they wouldn’t have been poor. They would have had good paying, decent jobs. They would have been buying homes, paying taxes, buying at the stores and participating in the growth of the city. Now we will have a hotel with no one in it and millions of dollars in debt.
There is only one mind controlling gorilla, and his name is Grod. Why does everyone think they can mind control politicians into willingly falling on their swords and tsking their own lives? Only Grod can do that. Not even Roy Moore is dumb enough to fall for that trick. Power has to be taken away. It will never be relinquished.
This entertainment article just drips with envy and jealousy. Oh how editor Marquardt wishes he were the one to discover, out the memo and then scoop it in the NITwit Times.
John with his poor judgement has lost the confidence of his colleagues, city staff and the residents of Mason City citizens. He has also put the City at risk if there is a lawsuit be his poor decision. How can he ever be trusted with confidential information again? John needs to do the right thing and resign.
Are you kidding me? You do the right thi by even when you think no one is looking. He knew this was confidential. Same thing goes for you and anyone else in the public eye. You act like an A-hole, don’t play the victim.
The memo was not confidential, and there was no confidential information in it. The memo says the reason for the administrative investigation is confidential. That memo reads more like a press release.
No, John Lee has demonstrated that he is not trustworthy.
Pretty arrogant to do this when he had dirty laundry of his own.
Hey, Mr. Lee when will you be taking full responsibility by resigning?
Well he certainly used bad judgement in this case, but I don’t believe he revealed anything confidential. But people will be scrutinizing him much more closely from now on.
This local news just in , from rochester , they are not local ! they already have a local channel KTTC . They can stop saying that now , it’s getting old. move back to Iowa.
If Marquardt was to sit on the city council, imagine the state of disarray the city would be in. Do you think he would be better than John Lee?
Working hard to represent the citizens of MC, is a selfless act that demands no ego. Him running for a counsel seat is not a good fit IMO. I want my counsel member to listen to what I have to say, not heckle me and blast me on a blog site if I say something that doesn’t agree him.
And, I want someone on the council who will listen when we talk and then take action where needed. Not cater to the establishment. Marquardt is that person.
You people in mason city are deserve a representative like Matt. He has proven time and time again what an open minded, caring and passionate person he is with this website. I fully support Matt and hope he gets a seat on your council. The people of mason city deserve such a person that represents your population. That person,folks, is Matt Marquardt, the King of all Doucheknuckles.
Yes, Marquardt would definitely be better than John Lee! No doubt about it. Lee is a teacher. Bodacious was a teacher. Nuff said.
He lost in a fixed and crooked election and the city knows it.
I wonder how much tang Brian Tabick has gotten out of KIMT personnel? I can see him working the cute puppy dog angle to get in there deep. However, I don’t know his orientation. He might want tong instead of tang.
Why is there a automatic assumption someone will sue? Suspended with pay, well that means they are trying to clear up an issue, right? Something internal most likely and if it is cleared MOST likely it won’t be on the fire chiefs record, right? So why all the worry about lawsuit?
What is said and should be addressed in a more serious matter is WHY when said memo not to be discussed gets exposed to the public…..that is the smoking gun and should be the most serious issue.
KEEP the pressure on MATT
I don’t know many of the details of this case, don’t really care to. Nor do I know Matt Marquardt. But MY opinion is that Matt is a whiny little shit.
Me too. I really hate Marquardt. If I ever see that punk, I will make sure he doesn’t walk away.
Matt Marquardt is a good guy. Maybe you just need to find a different news source if you don’t like the TRUTH.
Lay off the weed Symonds. You are making a fool of yourself again.
Aw look here. Quinn Symonds post under anonymous and James so he can hide like the coward he is. If he ever did tangle with Matt he would be carried away.
No one should hate someone to the degree of violence, unless the target is someone that caused violence themselves. Matt can be very annoying because of the way he administers to his website, but I certainly don’t wish violence on him. As the Voltari stated “Not without Cause”. So in other words, if you cause any harm to Matt you are going to suffer the wraith of the universe. Has Matt caused you physical harm? No. So fight fire with fire. Beat him at his own game. Get your Quill sharpened up and your ink bottle refilled.
Or – if you live in ward four – make sure to vote against him in the runoff.
How much does everyone want to bet that if Dyer files a lawsuit that half the money goes to Lee & The reporter. This all seems so much of a setup. But I doubt the citizens will never know. Shame.
No, truly, John is that stupid. And, I hope he gets the same consideration as the one who’s confidentiality he broke.
While Lee shouldn’t have shared the memo, the memo itself wasn’t confidential and contained no confidential information. Let me ask everyone this. Do we know something new from this memo’s release? If so, what new and confidential information did we learn? These types of articles are nothing but click bait, but they are entertaining I guess to a certain extent. But in reality they’re articles of fluff to rile people up.
Hey, I learned how to clean my electric smoker yesterday thanks to NIT! 🙂
That’s what we are here for – to inform! You’re welcome.
Instead of talking bad about Matt, how about we keep the comments geared towards the screw up John P. Lee did?
Matt, great article. This is the news that we need to know. John P. Lee was probably so caught up in the moment with his little victory he was spilling the information to everyone that night at the court house. Where was ol’ Skipper??? Must not have gotten a ride to the show that night.
Of course Lee was excited, makes him look good for promoting it, and we all know his wife was all for it too. Too much inside stuff going on in MC. Really need to throw out the council and start fresh.
This town is over. We need people like Matt and Weaver up at the table to help the citizens of Mason city. We are on a downward spiral heading for nowhere.
If John Lee takes full responsibility, then why hasn’t he turned in his resignation? Wow, John, Wow! How would you like the citizens of MC to find out about what kind of trouble you got into while on the job at at MCHS? What you and your wife did while on the job at MCHS?
I doubt he has much to worry about from someone too lazy to even make up a screen name.
Think as you wish but John Lee knows and would probably like to forget that he was ever caught. I know I’m not the only that knows…Insay he has no business disclosing dirty laundry of others.
Now here’s where his libmate, Bodacious, should step in and inform us. But she won’t.
“Dirty little secrets, dirty little lies
We got our dirty little fingers in everybody’s pie
Love to cut you down to size, we love dirty laundry
We all know that crap is king, give us dirty laundry.”
– Dirty Laundry Lyrics
Be proud Mason City, at least it is one way to get ‘local news’ on WKRP I mean KIMT that is otherwise all news about Minnesota!
Thank you John Lee and Brian Tabick for letting this out!! We need more truth seekers like you in our community!
do you still play in a band with TABBY ICK?
Fail…mountains out of molehills.
you know better than that Meyer
Unfortunately, John made a big mistake. Did Al Dyer put Brian up to this? Depending on what Dyer has done, the only way to avoid a lawsuit is to either reinstate him, or convince them both to resign and call it even in a negotiated agreement not to sue.
BFD. The memo said nothing we didn’t already know.
You knew Dyer was suspended BEFORE the memo was leaked to the TV boy? So who leaked the info to YOU? LEE?
Great article Matt time to drain the swamp
Again, why are we questioning Lee or any other reporter? The ONLY question should be why is a city employee making well NORTH of 100.000 dollars, unable to work?
I am the one paying this, I want to know why my employee is unable to work?