MASON CITY – Things nearly got out of hand at a recent Cerro Gordo County Republican Committee meeting and a couple attendees left the political pow-wow with hurt feelings and a damp Kleenex, NIT is told.
The hubbub all started Monday night, June 1, when the righties all got together at an insurance shop in Mason City to strategize on how to own those pesky lib’s at the ballot box. Folks gathered at the Farm Bureau at 6 PM that night to talk politics and were getting seated when, NIT is told, now-former committee member Lisa Yunek walked in and started snapping photos of the group.
“She didn’t like it that no one was wearing a mask,” a person at the meeting claimed while describing the meeting to NIT. There was only one person out of approximately 3 dozen there wearing a mask. “I was appalled that she started taking pictures,” the attendee continued. “I think she wanted to make trouble.”
Mrs. Yunek, wife of a prominent local attorney Joel Yunek, wasn’t the only one miffed on the anti-mask atmosphere. (GOP, NIT is told, feel weak when wearing masks, since Dear Leader Donald refuses to wear them.) As the meeting was getting underway, a local gal who attended, Emily Peters, demanded to know why the meeting wasn’t conducted via video conference on Zoom, possibly to dispel virus transmission chances. Mrs. Yunek, a county committee member, chimed in, and things went south from there. Voices were raised; an elected official in attendance told NIT that there was “rampant hostility” in the room.
“Tensions ran high,” NIT was told. “One of the uglier meetings I’ve been to,” according to the lawmaker.
Another lawmaker told NIT, “It wasn’t a fun meeting. The nonsense has got to stop.”
Soon, as the shouting reached a fever pitch, Mrs. Yunek was admonished by Committee Chair Barb Hovland who threatened Mrs. Yunek with expulsion. Mrs. Hovland, with what appeared to be strong support from her membership, as it was described to NIT, scolded Mrs. Yunek for being disruptive. Several members immediately seconded Hovland’s motion to oust Yunek. Member Don O’Connor then pointed out that a period of notice was required, by party committee rules and by-laws, prior to the commencement of expulsion proceedings. However, before discussion could even begin, Mrs. Yunek rose and walked toward the door.
“You don’t need to expel me,” she exclaimed. “Consider this as my resignation!”
She then exited the building.
In the run-up to this confrontation, another member, Emily Peters, appeared to anger Mrs. Hovland and some of the other Republicans, by repeatedly interrupting her, it is alleged by some in attendance. NIT was also told that conservative writer and political mastermind Todd Blodgett had accepted an invitation to address the group on behalf of Steve Minert, the Mason City businessman who is running for the position of Cerro Gordo county Recorder. Mr. Blodgett, who always legally carries a firearm and once made a carnie cry after the vagabond stole Mr. Blodgett’s wallet, had words with Ms. Peters, as it was described to NIT, after Mrs. Yunek stormed out. Since the meeting adjourned, it’s been rumored that Mr. Blodgett had somehow “bullied” Mrs. Yunek and Ms. Peters. Mr. Blodgett vehemently denied so doing when challenged on this by NIT.
“How is it ‘bullying,’” Mr. Blodgett demanded to know, “to call out someone for rudely interrupting the elected chair of the organization, who was the presiding officer of the meeting?
(via social media)
Republicans told NIT that during the meeting, Ms. Peters raised eyebrows by accusing Mrs. Hovland of disliking Shannon Latham, who is seeking the seat in the Iowa House of Representatives seat which is being vacated by former Speaker Linda Upmeyer.
“As far as I’m concerned,” Mr. Blodgett told NIT, “Barb and several others have ample reason to be highly displeased with Mrs. Latham. When Barb and I took her to lunch, at the onset of her doomed race against [state Senator] Amanda Ragan, she arrived late, and was as arrogant as she was clueless.
“But the issue of Shannon Latham didn’t arise at that June first meeting, until Emily Peters dredged it back up. In my view, Mrs. Hovland deserves a medal, for the idiocy she’s had to put up with, much of it instigated by Emily Peters.”
A source told NIT, “After what I saw in that meeting, and knowing how Todd deals with people who mess with him, I’d never want Blodgett for an enemy. Without using any profanity and just by citing her own words right back to her, Blodgett shredded Emily… she was staggered. I thought she was gonna faint. In fact, Ms. Peters got all teary-eyed and ran out the door” like her compatriot Mrs. Yunek did minutes earlier.
When asked about Mrs. Yunek, Blodgett said he didn’t bully her, and that they “have been friends since Jimmy Carter was President.” Mr. Blodgett added, “Lisa and her husband, Joel, are friends of mine, and have been for decades. I wish them only the best.”
The committee did confirm delegates for the upcoming state conventions. Discussion was held on promoting Republican county candidates. Possible “RINOs” and liberals in the room were told “there’s the door” during the meeting by Mrs. Hovland.
Efforts to reach Mrs. Hovland for comment were unsuccessful.
Everyone complains, but no one does anything. Perhaps if you can’t back up your mouth with actions, you shouldn’t post.
Or, if you are you, just delete the posts you don’t like.
Worry about yourself Yunek and Peters. You don’t have the right to tell others how/when to protect themselves. Who do you think you are? If you would like to have a conversation about what I think your problems are, look me up. Otherwise I’ll keep my opinions to myself as should you.
Don’t know about Peters, but Lisa Y sure don’t want people to know about her and some the shit she has been involve in.
What made her think she could get away with kicking this can of worms.
@ Bob, you can sure say that again!
Interesting, anonymous says that if Yunek and Peters have a problem, they should look him up. The gutless coward doesn’t leave his name. Hmmmmm.
like you do
I don’t believe I have ever told anyone to “look me up”, either.
An ever growing list of (former) children who should have been taken to the woodshed.
Baby Barb needs to go
People, there are real issues out there to be addressed.
Get a majority, fix the problems, and move on. If the old adage, “Divide and conquer” is still applicable, the republicans are going to beat themselves.
“…The Republicans are going to beat themselves.”
Hope so!
how is shunnan latham qualified to be a state senator. what has she done. pickin pumpinz. puttin out firez at school after naughty deedz. this is not the makinz of a top notch pol. she cant fill lindaz shoez.
Maybe she can spell!
So who SHOULD have been the anointed one for this race, obviously not Shannon Latham?
Hilarious.
Lisa Yunek is a joke. She’s a stupid, social-climbing, obnoxious wannabe. She has a record of barging into meetings and onto boards, insisting on taking over everything, harassing the people who know what they’re doing until they leave, then screwing everything up and running away, leaving others to clean up the mess. Joel Yunek is not prominent in anything and never has been. Good for Mrs. Hovland for shutting stupid Lisa down before she could do the same to the Republican committee.
Exactly. I have seen this wannabe in action at the country club, she recently sent my husband an email, begging for money to save the club. Trying to sell us various levels of buy-in’s.
Joel, her latest husband, for the time being, had to be disciplined there, years ago. He engaged in some disgusting conduct that I cannot even write about on this thread. But believe you me, it was horrendous.
Lisa’s sister is married to a loser whose fellow members of the airport commission demanded he be removed. So he resigned. But before that, he harassed some local women, and the MCPD were asked to become involved. The MC City Council knows all about this, as well.
An attorney friend of ours says Joel leaned on someone at the Court House to manipulate the proceedings, and it went away, for awhile. This creepy-creep was appointed by Eric Bookmeyer to that commission.
Lisa is either on husband #3 or #4, and our daughter feels sorry for Joel’s daughter, for having to put up with her.
The Studers and the Yuneks are, basically, social climbers without ladders.
Couple of jealous losers here.
LOL in your dreams lisa
Not Lisa. Just someone who calls it like it is.
I know Todd and Barb personally…Roosevelt Elem. kids from the 70’s.
Todd says what he means and means what he says.
He is not afraid to back it up.
There is NO gray area with him, or with me.
Kraig, I see that you are still following around Blodgett like a little puppy dog.
You’ve been doing that since the old school days.
@ James, so you got a problem with being loyal to his friends well ok. Maybe if you had any friends you might could understand the idea of loyallty.
Your sick dude really.
Feeble, very feeble indeed.
woof woof
Blodgett and Hovland are two of a kind – full of themselves and think there shit don’t stink.
Maybe Hovland is that way, don’t know her. But I do know Todd, he has been locked up in way to many jail’s to think his shit dont stink. If ever he might of been full of his self he don’t think like that since he got clean.
Todd is blunt, smart and experienced. People don’t like that, but it’s an admirable quality, and that may be interpreted as arrogance, but it is not.
Worked with Todd back in the 80’s this was for Tom and Cathy Barlas at the pheasant run. He was always the kind of guy would have your back, very funny too.
After work, this was some times like midnight or later, we would sit in the bar drink with the other wait staff, bartenders ect. Todd, he knew the best jokes, could go for hours without any repeats.
For a little guy, he could sure hold his liquor.
@ Pheasant, yes, and then he went from hitting the booze hard to crack cocaine. I would bet this guy has been locked up in more jails than just about any white man in Cerro Gordo.
Hard to take serious what a drug addict says, especially one thats been in as many jails as Blodgett. If his family wasn’t well connected and wealthy, he would probably be in Fort Madison.
I am not a fan of Todd Blodgett but I have respect for anyone who has kicked a drug habit. If you haven’t been there, or had a close family member who has been there, then you don’t have any idea how difficult that road is to travel.
@ Bodacious – I wasn’t going to jump onto this discussion, but your supportive comments are very much appreciated. Yeah, addiction can destroy lives, and it often does – and not only of junkies.
I give thanks every day to my family, to God, and to the Narcotics Anonymous program, for helping me to overcome the addiction that nearly killed me, and – for years – wrecked my existence.
Again, ‘Bo’, your post is truly appreciated.
Todd, You are welcome. I understand the difficulties in rehabilitation and, as I said, you are to be commended.
@Bodacious-Keep it up and I will have to change my opinion of you.
I am still who I am. You and I have much more in common than we have differences but you tend to judge me based on my politics, just like I judge you by your politics.
‘Bo’ – It’s unfortunate that anyone judges anyone, on a personal basis, over their politics. Obviously, there are certain exceptions: all Nazis, for example, are bad people.
But everyone should acknowledge that good (and bad) folks exist in BOTH political parties. Some of my closest friends absolutely abhor my views, as I do theirs.
But that doesn’t preclude us from being friends.
Correct. There are good and bad people on both sides and I believe everyone has the right to their opinion based on what they believe. I am tired, however, of the fighting and name-calling and the intentional attempts to stoke the fires of our dissenting opinions. We need to discuss racial problems in our society. Just because someone hasn’t experienced those disparities doesn’t mean they don’t exist. As a white man, I know I haven’t experienced the racism that a person of color in this country has felt, seen and heard and I realize it is here because I am guilty of doing some of the things that continue to keep racism alive. I want us all to be better and I am going to start working on me rather than trying to convince the inconvincible that there is a problem. They won’t admit it or change it because it is ingrained in them and they think that they are right – and righteous. We are doomed if we don’t live up to the principles upon which this country was founded. And we are doomed if we don’t begin to agree that what was right 250 years isn’t necessarily correct today.
bodacious, June 7, 2020 at 10:52 am
Good comment.
…says Mrs. Yunek who has used her own hubby’s status to overcome divorces and more in her past…
By the standards of the Studers the Yuneks have some status, but with most others, they do not.
@ Country, LOL! Ain’t that the truth.
Hahahahahahahaha, you sure nailed that one.
Lisa yunek, not diane, correct?
Mr. Blodgett may hold views that racists would agree with, but personally, I don’t think he is a racist. A
gun nut, yes. But racist, no.
I have read interviews he had with The Washington Post, the Huffington Post, the Associated Press, the Wall Street Journal, NBC News, and so forth.
In all of them, he denounced the haters he once worked with, and then spied on for the FBI.
One of the golfers in my foursome personally knows him. He says that while Todd’s views are antiquated, he has never detected any racial bigotry from Blodgett.
Georgia Guidestones, Agenda 21, 40 million jobs gone because if a well planned in advance psyop the deceived masses fell for, dress rehearsal was “Event 201”, https://youtu.be/0vu3XvTBaUo. Smith Mundt Act reinstated, does anyone on this platform know what that even is. Ignorance is a choice.
The Republican party line is fraying. Hovland and Blodgett are Trump-like in their reliance on bullying and braying about nonsensical issues. Rational Republicans are becoming tired of it and it will show at the polls in November.
Blodgett did not bully anybody, I was at the meeting. Everything he said made sense and he knows how to get Republicans elected.
Barb can be a bully, and she often is. Agree, it is time for us to elect a new party chair.
It’s time we remove her as chair.
Why wasn’t Shanno at the meeting. That’s a suspension and loss of extracurricular activities uh humm after school.
@ West Fork: Why wasn’t Shannon there? Because except for maybe 5 members of our party, we do not like her.
She is like a Republican Hillary Clinton. She is fake, relies on her family name to get her through, and thinks our party owes her something.
She expects party money to pay her way and she gets her contacts down to Des Moines to make sure she gets it. She also looks down on us and thinks we should do her work for her campaigns.
Like I say, she is the GOP Hillary Clinton.
She wasn’t there because she’s a fake a$$ that no one likes
This escalated quickly.
Since other GOP committee members have shared their opinion I will.
Barb Hovland is a stuck-up, rude, disrespectful, and mean person. Unless you can flaunt wealth like she does you are no better than the carpet that she walks on. She treats you like crap and bullies anyone who won’t worship the ground that she walks on. She thinks that the Republican Party is only in existence because she’s involved. She uses her positions in the GOP for self promotion and only talks about herself. It’s disgusting to say the least. I don’t know why the committee keeps voting for her to be the chair. We should vote her out like we voted her in. She does not represent the party. She’s downright rude and mean. She claims that others are bullies but it’s time she look in a mirror. Because she’s the worst of them all.
Her Secretary and cohort “Biker Pat” as she calls herself is just as bad. She’s evil and vile too. Anytime that someone goes after Barb this lady jumps on them and rips on them just like Barb. Barb has “Biker Pat” on a leash and controls her it seems. No idea how someone could actually standup for Barb. She wouldn’t stand up for anyone else. She’d jab a stake in them if it meant she got ahead.
I think it’s time we get behind Emily and push for change. Remove Barb and get rid of the drama she brings with. The committee would be better off without Barb. Emily is the only one brave enough to fight for what’s right. But the entire committee is cheering her on silently. We don’t want Barb anymore. We want someone like Emily who is young and full of ideas. Emily we support you!
Yikes, I’m literally frightened after reading this. Is she a narcissist, one of those nasty Karens I keep reading about?
Sounds like she emulates the highest ranking official of your party.
Sounds like you may be a bit defensive about your Bunker Boy. It will be OK, OK keep your chin up little trooper, brighter days are on the horizon.
Who is Jeffery Dommer?
A voice in his (anonymous) mind.
a blast from the past
Wear a dang mask case closed, they tell everyone else to when in groupsso much drama here! people acting like children running our city it’s shameful also.
Only on NIT… Pesky, carnie, hubbub, lib’s, honchos. Top notch high school journalism at its finest folks.
Matt is a joke.
when challenged on this by NIT. Yeah, sure.
The meeting was a cluster f$ck. The article is written like a high school gossip note but it’s all true.
TRUMP 2020 2024 2028 2032 2036
MAGA MAGA MAGA!!
I was a volunteer for Sharon Steckman when Barb Hovland ran against her. This rich blonde is just plain stupid.
She is like an Iowa version of Anna Nicole Smith, but without the brains.
theres room in mason for some of those statues from down south they tearing down lets put one up at farm bureau didnt know they were facist a-holes putting political meetings in their office guess im shopping for new coverage
I’m finding new coverage after this. Shame on the Farm Bureau for allowing this behavior. The Farm Bureau should kick the GOP to the curb. They can find a new meeting place.
@ customer: My brother serves on the Board of Directors of the Iowa Farm Bureau and I am member, from Worth county.
Take your insurance wherever you want. The Republicans will get to keep using our building for their meetings.
End of story.
If that’s your attitude about this, what about the rest of the things in your life, you might as well cease to exist.
Why…..because he does not agree with you
I stand in support of Emily Peters. As a Cerro Gordo committee member I call on the rest of the committee to support her. She’s the only one brave enough to stand up to Barb and fight for what’s right. Barb Hovland cares about herself only. She uses the chair position for self promotion and to bully others. I call on Barb to resign and for the committee to elect a new chair.
I support Emily to!!
I know Emily and I like her. She has spunk and alot of energy. Blodgett did not bully her, I was there. Emily did interrupt Barb, and not just once. Several times. That was when Todd called her out.
Then she said she was only asking a question, and this was not even one minute after she slipped in her remark about Barb not liking Shannon.
That was when Blodgett pounced. It was like watching a smart trial lawyer do his thing. She did not leave after her dealings with Todd. She left awhile later, after one of Barb’s allies, a woman, went after her. That’s when she left our meeting.
It’s true that Barb does not like Shannon. She made that clear before. So Emily was just speaking the truth. And you know what they say. Truth hurts.
So deal with it
BARB DOESNT LIKE ANYONE WHO IS SMARTER, BETTER-LOOKING, MORE POPULAR, RICHER THAN HER.
If your right she don’t like nobody that is smarter well then she don’t like nobody.
Get rid of Barb Hovland and all the drama would disappear. She brings all this with her. Loves the fighting and conflict. No one on the committee wants her anyway. Time for the Cerro Gordo GOP to find a new county chair.
Agreed. She needs to go away.
run for it
Revoke the 19th amendment and this will be a relic of days gone by. Also only property owners should get to vote. MAGA
Women start drama just to start their cat fight
men take the red pill NOW and your life will dramatically improve no more drama no more prison lifestyle answering to a crazy female
How fitting for a gun-totin’ neanderthal Republithug like Blodgett to have been present at this meeting of his fellow neo-Nazis.
This article links to an earlier story that talks about Blodgett threatening a carnival worker with a loaded gun.
Well why was this violent Republithug not arrested for being armed in a bar? Even if you have a conceal carry permit, you cannot take guns into bars or restaurants.
STFU and go lick an ear with Biden.
@ Biden, I was at Rumorz the night the carnies robbed Mr Blodgett, it must of been legal at the time to have a gun at a bar. The cops got there about 10 minutes after we seen one of the carnies walk back in the bar, Todd was back of him his gun was aimed at that carnie’s back.
Well he kept his gun on the carnie till the cops got there they took things from there, but there was three maybe four cops they seen Blodgett was armed so must of been okay.
It’s still Ok to have a gun at the bar if you have your permit
@ Pro, ok, but what about the fact that Blodgett admitted he had been drinking in that bar on the night he pulled his gun on the carnival worker?
If you are drinking while in a bar and armed, you have committed a felony, Einstein.
Sorry, AEA, but you are wrong. The Code of Iowa allows bar patrons to be armed, provided they hold a concealed-carry permit, and to drink, provided they are sober.
Unless Mr. Blodgett was drunk while armed and inside the bar, he was legally in the right. If he had been legally intoxicated, he would have been subject to arrest, and may have been required to surrender his CCP.
As a lawyer, I am very familiar with this law.
I think you are wrong…
Oof… And you are in education? Crack a law book!
Shannon Latham is as fake as they come. She uses her last name to get what she wants. She will be just as stuck up as them when she is elected. She will win because the dumbo from CL doesn’t have a snowball chance in hell.
Maybe we need to kick some of these women to the curb. Seems they can’t control the party. They are mean girls fighting. Let the men run the show. Might actually elect some republicans that way.
GOP is for MEN ONLY kick the women out! Problems will magicly disapear.
Amen. Kick them to the curb. They can have their cat fight outside.
Yup!
Yunek is a Democrat spy. She should have been thrown out of the Republican party a long time ago. She’s a joke.
I bet your right, was glad to read Miss Hovland wants her gone. We know her man, he is one of them ambalance chasers a trail lawyer they are all Dems yes.
The whole Yunek family is s scam. Wonder if he’s a dirty porn lawyer too?
The are two separate Yunek families in Mason City
– and now, she is a “gone” joke.
She will try and slither her way back in.
She can try, this Peters can, too, but I bet they will be barred.
They are about as popular in the party as a hooker with AIDS.
They are the only ones brave enough to go up against Barb because they know what’s right. Emily Peters should be the county chair not Barb. Barb is a mean girl bully.
Hooker with AIDS? That should be right up your alley if you are a Trump supporter.
Told Don to stay away from your lady friend
I was there. No control.
Barb has lost control of her party!
If you can’t take the heat, it’s best to stay out of the kitchen!!!
Yep. I was there, and this Peters, she is really something else. A total pain in the arse, she is.
Was so happy that somebody (Blodgett) finally told her off. Some folks there even think she might be a spy.
Looks like she won’t be coming back, if she does, it will not go well for her.
Hahahahaha
She aint no spy
Yes, kitchen, to bad them women cause all this mess don’t stay in there’s.
I mean, instead of being out doing this politics.
Politics is best left to us.
well la dee da