MASON CITY – Steve Minert, President of Mason City Harley-Davidson, inc., who also serves as the chairman of the Cerro Gordo county Compensation Board, ended months of speculation today by announcing he won’t run for the Iowa Senate seat held by state Senator Amanda Ragan. Last month, some top Republican operatives from Des Moines traveled to Mason City and to Clear Lake, to discuss a Minert candidacy with him. Several north Iowa GOP insiders and Democrats have told NorthIowaToday.com that they believe Mr. Minert would have the upper hand in a race against Ragan.
“It’s an honor to even be urged to seek this office,” Minert told N.I.T. “But my family is, and always has been, my top priority. I won’t go into details now, but we have some serious health concerns regarding a close family member.
I also have a dealership to run, and my son is still at home. Maybe in the future I’ll seek public office. But it won’t be in 2018.”
Mr. Minert is a graduate of NIACC and the University of Northern Iowa, where he majored in political science. He has served on the Compensation Board since 2015. In 2016, Minert defeated its long-time chairman, former Mason City Mayor Tom Jolas, in the election for chairman of the Board. The ‘Comp Board’, as it’s known, possesses, by the Code of Iowa, the authority to set the salaries of all of county elected officials. Minert and his father, Ron Minert, own Harley-Davidson dealerships in Mason City and Charles City. Their Mason City franchise is Iowa’s largest motorcycle dealership, in terms of sales and the value of its inventory.
When Gov. Kim Reynolds, Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg, Senator Chuck Grassley, and the Speaker of the Iowa House of Representatives, Linda Upmeyer, were recently in Clear Lake, Minert was being urged to oppose Ragan. Amanda Ragan has won five elections to Senate district #27 since 2002, and is undefeated. Republicans throughout north Iowa and elsewhere have been urging Minert to run, and political observers from both parties believe he would be Sen. Ragan’s strongest possible opponent.
NorthIowaToday.com contacted a longtime Democratic party activist, who spoke on condition of anonymity. This Democrat said, “Steve Minert would be Amanda’s worst nightmare. Unlike any other north Iowa Republican, he’d draw support from Democrats, Independents, blue-collar workers, and Union members, much like President Trump. Amanda is very lucky that he’s not running in ‘18.”
Max Weaver has also withdrawn from the Senate race. Smartest guy in the room at the city council meetings kinda guy.
Remember DDT – Bad crap that could kill you – well that’s what the Democrap Dipshit Turds represent – lies and thievery and had a good run with the help of the democrap owned newspapers and TV stations (except FOX) – their a ponzi scheme was ready to take control. Thank your lucky stars for Trump and Thanksgiving. Truth baby – Just the TRUTH. Democrats are NOTHING MORE than stinking ZOMBIES.
Steve’s a great guy! Very smart, loyal and has a big heart!! He’d bring so much to the table! My prayers are with him and his family!
He would have lost to Ragan anyway and he knows it that is why he chose not to run. The writing was on the wall that the undefeated Amanda Ragan is unbeatable. He simply does not want to lose and I don’t blame him.
Agreed, on the noisy machines this man sells, they pollute to. But that would not of cost him any votes he had a chance with. You see he has alot of support around here on count of all the charities he gives the big bucks to. I do know this, our grandson got some.
Last week up to the VFW, some people they talked on this Minert running. I think and this is sad to say, he would of beat her.
But yes very glad he folded his tent up.
Loozers, can’t vote, so your comment is null and void.
The entire last paragraph is B.S.
Another corporate R feeding at the public trough.
I went to UNI with him, smartest guy in the room kinda guy. Hope all goes well with your family Steve !
Stevie would of been good, ok may be next time.