MASON CITY – In an interview with NorthIowaToday.com, Natasha Lewerke, a candidate for Cerro Gordo County Treasurer, has apologized for distasteful emails that she sent while an employee in the office for which she seeks to lead, and also leveled allegations of her own about the goings-on there.
This interview is in response to a front-page story in the Sunday Globe Gazette in which emails Mrs. Lewerke sent and traded with other employees in the Treasurer’s Officer were scrutinized. The emails were distasteful, possibly demeaning to other employees and she says, not intended for others to see. The Globe Gazette published the hurtful material, thereby allowing the public – and those who were the subject of the material in those emails – to see and digest the contents.
In the following interview conducted at NIT Headquarters, Mrs. Lewerke meets the email controversy head-on and also levels allegations of possible questionable conduct or performance in the Treasurer’s Office, where she was an employee for 10 years:
The kind that owns the site. What do you own?
Why such a long face, is it because of all the comments. Possibly the most comments ever on a news story by NIT.
Most of the comments by the GLOB Shill, Bullshit Amos.
Even if she DID, by some MIRACLE, win this election, I’m pretty sure she would be working ALONE because the current employees would IMMEDIATELY abandon their jobs. Because they would suspect, either openly or secretly, she would be mocking everyone is her office.
Whoa Bull your very angry, oh I get it your not straight edged like she is, well not everyone can be. You must of been turned down by SES.
Most of them should be fired anyway.
No one quits a cushy government job unless they are an entitled, lazy millennial who invents a video game.
Lmao
Or someone that begs for and mooches $30,000 form the MC taxpayers.
Broken record, redundant, envious, jealous, poor me, useless, worthless, inept, loser.
Rich beyotch from St Ansgar who owns Market 124 just did that, look in the city expenses for Blue House. Left her Christian husband for an older rich guy, used his money to buy the building, now keeps coming to Mason City for more money to fix it up, and has never lived here. Stop giving our money to out of town con artists!
Tell me more about Ms. Katie….
Matt ran for a cushy job on the city council and lost, TWICE!
Who could trust ANYONE to be in a position of power with HER twisted mentality ? Just because she says she’s sorry does not mean those mean and nasty thoughts about people have gone away.
Are you kidding ? Most if not ALL MC Authorities or of higher power are corrupted. They just haven’t been caught YET. What rock have you been hiding under? Pay attention people.
She says other people in her office also wrote crude emails. WAKE UP !!! This situation is NOT about OTHER people. No court of law in the U.S. would accept a defedant’s claim “But your Honor…Lots of other people in my neighborhood sell drugs too.:
“I’m sorry” / “Faith in God” / blah blah blah. Convicted criminals use the same lines she did to proclaim their “innocence”.
You should know!
Globe’s timing thing is just blowing smoke. If it (“timing complaints) didn’t work for Hillary, then why would she expect it to work for her? The Globe COULD have waited until 3 (or same day) days before election to publish this story. So what? That is their prerogative. Politically motivated? PROVE IT. The Globe has OTHER stories to publish WHENEVER IT WORKS FOR THEM.
So… if ANYTHING the Globe Gazette published was illegal, I guess her lawyers need to get libel lawsuits started. Oh. That’s right. She can’t sue if they use words that SHE PUT IN WRITING.
WHAT A CROCK OF S**T !!!
She should bow out gracefully before it’s too late. She thinks those NASTY emails might be embarrassing ? Wonder what she’s gonna think when she sees the election numbers ?
WHAT A CROCK OF S**T !!!
Perhaps some “bean counters” will calculate the percentage of this BLATANTLY BIASED / OBVIOUSLY (a paid?) POLITICAL AD that:
1. Slammed the Globe Gazette for publishing the TRUTH.
2. Number of HARD questions asked during this fake news “interview”. (I can answer that one myself: ZERO)
3. Number of attempts to “SPIN” her guilt away by pointing out others’ ALLEGED electronic “mistakes”.
Bull uses beans to count with, how cute!
Will you be publishing her campaign financial disclosure statement, like you did with yours during your run for public office?
Withdraw!!!
If I was her neighbor or friend, I would think, what has she said about me.
Who cares what people say or think about you. I could care less if someone made fun of me. I’m not 7 years old
Who, would want to live next door to, or be friends with cyber bullying back stabber?
This entire article is all about Matt and his hatred of the Globe. He smelled blood in the water, chased her down for an interview and is using Lewerke for his own gain.
And it’s working! You only post on this site, w/nothing important or newsworthy, because you don’t like Matt, while unknowingly helping him. Keep up the good work.
The other lady running for office is allot better looking. She will get my vote That is how I vote now because all in elected office are bad I now vote on looks. If two men run I write in some loser I know and hate. Everyone should vote this way less stressful.
Lol
This should be the way all people vote lol
1500 abusive emails out of 6 MONTHS divided by 4 WEEKS IN A MONTH, divided by 5 WORK DAYS = AVERAGE of 12.5… 12.5 ABUSIVE EMAILS A DAY !!!! THAT INDICATES A VERY TROUBLING PATTERN and INDIVIDUAL.
After talking to several people that she went to school with, she was like that in school. Evidently she has been like that all her life.
PEOPLE REALIZE THIS 6months investigated of computer use… 1500 bad, degrading, toxic non work related emails … 1500 divided by 6 months … divided by 4 weeks … divided by 5 days in a work week = 12.5. PEOPLE that is 12.5 average emails a day for a continuous 6 months …. 12.5 non work related abusive emails a DAY!! More then1 an hour all day everyday average non stop. That isn’t a mistake THAT DESCRIBES A WAY OF LIFE, CHARACTER FOR THIS WOMAN. No amount of saying you apologize.. mind you just saying she apologized but not ACTUALLY APOLOGIZING PERSONALLY TO THE INDIVIDUALS SHE ABUSED does it absolve this behavior. Can you imagine how many more there are if the investigation was for more then 6 months??!!! This shows a pattern that average… EVERYDAY, EVERY HOUR OF EVERY DAY THIS WOMAN CARRIES AROUND HATEFUL, ABUSIVE THOUGHTS ABOUT OTHERS. Not only that SHE SPREADS THIS ABUSE TO OTHERS WITH IN THE DEPARTMENT SHE MANAGES???!!! TOXIC, EVERYDAY, ALL DAY LONG. This is not an opps ” I should not have said that outfit makes her look fat “ remark out of the blue, once in a blue moon bad statement. ITS AN AVERAGE ALL and EVERY DAY BEHAVIOR. This is not the type of person or behaviors wanted or needed. That many for that length of time … that behavior simply doesn’t just end or go away. TOXIC AND DISTRUCTIVE.
Change allows me to forgive Ms. Lewerke
How much “change”, did she give you. You’ll still have to get a job.
Doubtlessly, the Globe is sleaze for posting those emails which I hear aren’t accurately depicted. No care whatsoever if the nice lady targeted reads them and feels like a meatloaf sandwich. One must ask oneself, is the sleazy dead Globe immune to office hijinks and unprofessional conduct behavior or whatnotism?
Well news is news, just like on NIT. Reporting news involves some pleasant and some not so pleasant incidents. The article does state that all victims of this lady already knew the contents of the emails. Reporting a persons bullying and degrading lifestyle to others is not the same. Exposing a toxic person and toxic work environment created by this person is a great step in the right direction of saying this behavior is wrong and will not be tolerated.
there’s no possible way the globe management stil offer unsuspecting employees spur of the moment free back rubs. that aint a thing anymore is it?
I do not care who the warm body is. If they are a donkey I vote the other way. Lib’s has a desease and there only one cure for it, made by Smith and Wessun.
Okey dokey Jethro, now go on back to that there jug o’ moonshine.
Made me SICK when she brought up her religion. I hate hypocrites that thump the Bible when it only helps them… sound familar?
Today’s Republican Christian. Nothing Christian or even Republican, about her.
The emails were distasteful, possibly demeaning to other employees and she says, not intended for others to see…………. In other words, The emails, produced on a county computer, written during working hours, over the course of several years, while on the job, for which I received a paycheck, knowing that it was wrong but hoping I wouldn’t get caught.
Want to know what a LOAD OF CRAP Natasha is trying to sell? Ask those of us that LIVED it!! She is deflecting–plain and simple!! She is ONLY SORRY SHE GOT CAUGHT!! Character and morality are totally void in this person.
You might not care for Pat Wright if she gave you an answer you didn’t like…..but she is fair, treats everyone equally, and is ALWAYS respectful.
Right is right, even if no one is doing it. WRONG IS WRONG, even if EVERYONE is doing it!!
2/3 of Natasha’s email were not work related. I.e she spent day and a half each week working and the rest of the time gossiping. In failing to recognize this Pat wasted hundreds of thousands of tax dollars before Natasha finally got herself fired. the department needs to be downsized, and Pat needs to be the first to go. And no, we don’t need Natasha Back
Attitudes start at the top. The employees that work in the Treasurer’s Office are only reflecting the core beliefs of their leader who the people have elected, Patricia Wright. It is time for a change, period!
How about the county not have a County Treasurer at all one less salary to deal with. since both women Rep. Vs Dem. can’t do the job just call it “Reduction in workforce” other employer’s do it all the time Problem solved
Than I can stop hearing about it and get on with my life. Done!!!!!
Were fighting about Cerro Gordo county really….
If you, stayed off this site, you, wouldn’t hear about it. Get a life, and a job. out of cerro gordo co.
Wright is already doing both the treasurer’s and auditor’s jobs, thanks to the irresponsible Graveball kid, who didn’t want to do all the work of just one of those jobs and quit.
The buck should have stopped with Pat Wright. She does not have the temperament or moral compass to be in that position. Natasha has taken responsibility for her actions. I feel that a vote for Natasha would be a step in right direction. Pat Wright needednto go along time ago !!.
Exactly how has she taken responsibility? She has not even apologize to the people she was bullying. Please explain to me how she is taking responsibility..
As neither deserves to be a county officer, why do t we save time and start a recall petition now?
Appalled and sad that the Globe put this trashy story on the front page. I’m not sure who to vote for, but answering the call shows guts and leadership. Red Wave coming.
Answering the call? What she did is pathetic.
What were they supposed to do? It was handed to them, and the sheer volume of vulgar, insulting emails, on the county’s time and email server, made it front-page news. If it had been a one-time thing, maybe it would be different, but it went on, and on, and on, for months. The only surprising thing is that the other emailer wasn’t fired too. Maybe they couldn’t afford to lose both at the same time, so the one in the higher position was chosen.
This women obviously should not be in a position of authority. She created a hostile work environment and threatened co workers. Hope her current employer is keeping a close eye on her.
Matt gets such vicarious pleasure from Globe bashing. That’s the driving force behind this canned and rehearsed interview. If only Robin Anderson was somehow involved his wildest dreams would come thru. Matt exploited Natasha!!!!
She wanted of tell her side of the story, and Matt gave her the opportunity. No way was she exploited, she should thank him.
Matt has an axe to grind with the GG since he got fired too. He went to her looking for dirt on the Globe and that is the theme of his interview, not Lewerkes interests. Listen to the bias and coaching in his leading, well rehersed questions.
I quit the GG fair and square in August 2006; I already started my web design business over a year earlier and it was making money. I didn’t need that bum job anymore.
And I appreciate the “well-rehearsed” description of my questions. In actuality, I discussed the matter with Mrs. Lewerke for about 10-15 minutes before I conducted the interview. No rehearsing at all, I just asked questions I thought folks would want to hear answers to.
I offered Mrs. Lewerke a chance to tell her side of the story. I’ve done this many times over the years. She accepted the interview request. I certainly didn’t coerce anyone to do anything.
I would interview Robin anytime. Only it can’t be alone in a secret room like she asked me to do. That seemed creepy and like she was hitting on me. Oh and no grabbing either.
#metoo
Several years ago, she called my daughter a whale. Evidently her concept of people hasn’t changed. If she publicly kissed all her co-workers asses, in apology, I still would not vote for her. You cannot un-ring a bell.
So, did she take off any weight?
Are you for real, what does that have to do with the article? I should ask you, did your mother hatch any kids that lived?
GOOD ONE
Does anyone else see a hostile work environment claim coming against the County? In this whole mess, I just want to tell the woman they were talking about to keep her head high and not let the scumbag co-workers get her down.
Yes, and all the evidence needed is right here, and on the front page of the Globe. The county will have no choice but to settle, quietly and quickly. Once again, entitled employees who got their jobs because they were related to somebody are going to cost us, the taxpayers, and bunch of money with their stupid behavior. Shut up and get to work, morons.
Obviously Lewerke is NOT qualified for any job working with other people with this terrible, childish behavior. Can you even imagine her going back to this office she was FIRED from, as their supervisor? That will never work and she deserved to be fired, for waste of county time and money and her appaling behavior. Too bad there is not a good write-in candidate.
Her nephew is the Valpraiso Slasher, Her family built a new wing on The Frances Lauer Youth Center to keep him out of prison.
Seems like her family thinks they are above both the rules and laws.
https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/valparaiso/valpo-high-school-slasher-out-of-treatment-seven-years-after/article_1d945008-f8d0-54ea-ba68-f1cd3d994c67.html
He is not a nephew of hers. Know your facts.
What an interview. Wow. Me thinks these revelations merely tip of ice berg. WTH is goin on in that courthouse. The 3 R supervisors need to step in and get control and fast.
The Globe went to far with printing such trash. Though appalling, I accept her apology and plan to vote for her. Ask yourself why was she fired and not the others involved in the emails? She was a whistle blower. A lot of court house dirt. The Globe doesn’t want her to win nor the powers that be. You definitely have my vote.
Who did she apologize to? The victims of the emails or just the taxpayers? From what I have heard she has never once apologize to the coworkers. She is only sorry because the emails were made public. If you support her you are supporting her behavior and that is just sad.
Why would she apologize to you?
Are you kidding? They didn’t go far enough!
Common knowledge the Globe plays dirty tricks on the very citizens they depend on to buy their vanishing, boring newspaper. Obviously, they favor one candidate here, as they have in the past so many times. At least they printed her name correctly. Only a totally inept and and corrupt newsroom or editor would purposefully print a person’s photo with a totally fictitious name under it, right?
Oh Matt, please just let it all go and Robin too.
She should be charged with Theft. She robbed tax payers by taking a paycheck she did not earn while emailing and most likely by texting on the job.
Any financial advisors looking for work? County has good pay and benefits. Someone other than these crooks should run. It’s the same old trash every election. Hows bill schickle mayor again?
Please do not vote for the lesser of 2 evils. Leave it blank or write in a candidate. Please somebody step up and run a write in campaign!!!
I hereby nominate the Editor of NIT for County Treasurer.
Tom b. Natasha Lewerke married into the lewerke family. I don’t believe she is even related to the James kid you are talking about but I can tell you proof positive that pat Wright is related to the guy that murdered the Petersburg football coach a few years back. I promise you there was way more than 3 girls doing those kind of emails. It happened 3 years ago and people do change
https://globegazette.com/news/local/student-in-stabbing-has-north-iowa-ties/article_a31563ad-0329-509d-8413-50a6ced6a06e.html
I have an idea, if you serve the public and /or want to run for public office don’t do dumb shit. It’s really a very simple concept.
Good point, and if you have done dumb shit, best not to run for public office.
There has to be a way of postponing this election in order to find a better candidate. Wright shouldn’t continue being treasurer. Shes lazy, and avoids taking responsibility when able. Seems lewerkey falls into the same category. Both should not be trusted with a counties finances.
Well, well, well. I was going to vote for the incumbent because I didn’t know anything about Ms. Lewerke.
Women have a tendency to be catty or at least that has been my experience in the work place. Men on the other hand will rip your ass TO YOUR FACE.
At the end of the day, (for me) after weighing the attitudes of Ms. Lewerke and Ms. Wright, a change in the Treasurers Office would be healthy. Clearly Ms. Lewerke has grown from this experience. Ms. Wright is a question mark for me.
Thanks Matt for your investigative reporting! The Glob Gazette is a disgusting excuse for a Newspaper!
What do you really know about the incumbent, other then hearsay on social media. I would think that it would be hard to make a sound decision on who to vote for without actually talking to each person. I would not want to work for/under someone that acted like that in the work place.
Carla, I know Ms. Wright very well. I am only referring to “learning from the gossip garbage”. I think change in the Court House is a good thing. To much assumptive power when folks get elected and re-elected over and over. It’s apparent to me that goes on a lot in the Court House. We went and voted yesterday for Ms. Lewerke!
So you must condone her actions. That makes you just as bad, if not worse then her. Sure hope a loved one of your is never the victim of bullying.
It doesn’t really matter to me which one gets elected. But reading the article and knowing how I feel about bullying, at any level, I can not vote for someone that has caused that much harm in the workplace. And, I have to agree with, Anonymous, October 16, 2018 at 1:06 pm
She acts exactly like Trump. They’d better run some DNA on her to discover who her real father is. No way she’s going to win.
The whole courthouse is a catty mess. Gossip and bitching. They should pull all their employees email records and call Jerry Springer!
After listening to the interview it sounds like the County needs to Setup a Day Care for the Court House Employees! What a mismanaged mess.
“But other people were doing it!”
“Gossip just got the best of me!”
“What about these other bad things going on at the office?!”
Doesn’t matter. You sent 1,500 emails on government time using government property cruelly degrading your coworkers. You are now running for public office and these emails illustrate a) What a cruel kind of person you can be and b) your poor judgement in the workplace. These childish excuses seem to indicate you haven’t really accepted responsibility because you dont want to face the consequences. Its newsworthy because you are running for elected office, not your coworkers. Btw, great journalism Matt. Way to ask the tough questions by reminding her of her talking points!
Apology accepted. I’m more worried about the 2 million dollars that were not collected by Treasurer. One reason the bridges by my farm are collapsing.
Maybe they could get more actual work done if they weren’t so busy emailing insults back and forth with people 5 feet away from them.
Tough choice for me.
What Ms. Lewerke did was obviously wrong and even though she apologized she will be working with/supervising these same people.
However under the “Wright administration” morale must be at an all time low. Have you ever dealt with the lady at the #2 station (the dirty blond)? She is in a bad mood ALL THE TIME!!!
Few years ago had a mixed up title for a vehicle. They told me to do one thing, Iowa DOT website and an employee in Des Moines told me something else. Went to the courthouse, unlucky enough to get the lady at station #2 and started questioning who I was to believe, them or the Iowa DOT. As my voice was getting a little louder as we were going in circles about my question, Ms. Wright who was standing outside her office conveniently went back in and disappeared. They guy behind the partition popped up and started to talk to me but still couldn’t answer why the state and the county were telling me 2 different things as I had printed off the paperwork from the state website. They finally just quit talking to me and I never got my question answered. Ended up costing me (from what the Iowa DOT said) much more than it should have.
Too bad it not like the Auditors position where several candidates are running.
The woman looks very stressed.
Only apologizing because she was outed. Not getting my vote. Guess she feels she’s better than others. Disgusting!
Yes, you are!
Lewerke may have been wrong with these emails, but no more childish than to republish old news a couple weeks before the election!
Is she surprised this came out? I would have been more surprised if it hadn’t. She wants to go back and work with these women and be their boss, after she belittled them. That office environment would be amazing.
That’s politics in the 21st century.
Typical Hardy move. It is time they cleaned up their yard on South Monroe. If they want to try to destroy people Hardy should be held to account.
A little off the subject aren’t you. What does Hardy’s yard have to do with the article. Nice try at deflection, maybe you should get a lobotomy, it might make you smarter. lol 🙂
Read it again and do it real slowly. That way you might just understand it. If they want to throw stones they had better know it is a two way street.
Anonymous: October 16, 2018 at 8:18 am
OK, I read your comment real slow, and still came to the same conclusion. So lets dissect your comment and see if we can come up with another meaning because they are offlay vague.
(Typical Hardy move) I’m not sure what that actually means, can you explain it, in detail, as what it has to do with the article.
(It is time they cleaned up their yard on South Monroe) Now, what does this really have to do with the article? Again, can you explain in detail.
.
(If they want to try to destroy people Hardy should be held to account.)
Concerning the article, there is a hint there of what you are trying to say, but do you have any actual proof that Hardy is trying to destroy people? And, what should people do to hold Hardy to account, and who would/could do it.