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Max Weaver has also withdrawn from the Senate race.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!
a drunk who goes to rehab over and over, and paid an employee to confess to a drug crime that he did. everybody knows this stuff, he couldn’t get elected dogcatcher
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.
@ Jack, even Amanda does not think she is unbeatable. She is undefeated because she works very hard, and she has had weak opponents with little money and no real connection to Mason City. She and Jim have always said that if she can win by one vote, that’s fine. So, please stop running your mouth.
I strongly support Amanda and have since her first campaign. But comments like yours do her campaign and our party no good. Believing that any candidate is uneatable can, and does, lead to defeat. Look at what happened last fall to Mrs. Clinton, who was widely presumed to be unbeatable. Look at what happened to Mary Jo, who lost to a hog farmer who knows less about government than most middle school students.
If you really want to help Senator Regan, join us at our monthly meetings. The next one will be at the Village Court restaurant a week from Tuesday. It will be held on Nov. 28, at 5:45 pm. Amanda will be there, as will I, and others who can provide you with some guidance. In the meantime, please be discreet.
As much as I abhor the thought, I think Minert probably would have beat her. A fellow Democrat who knows more about politics and campaigns than just about anyone I know, knows Steve. He also knows Amanda. And just last weekend, he warned some of us that Amanda would lose. So don’t let your ego get in the way of your judgment, Jack. I hope to see you on Nov. 28. Your energy is needed by our party.
HP 2020-I mean no harm, just have a lot confidence in Amanda that she will win. \She does a great job for everyone in her district
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.
The Editor just makes shit up as he goes along throwing red meat to the NITwits. Minert was out financed by a young R woman who is next generation owner in the Latham Seed business. The Globe ran the story several days ago. You missed another scoop Marquardt.
So says a dead man.
@ Ricky, I am not so sure about that. My fellow Democrats are very relieved that Mr. Minert will not run. The same bunch of deplorables that elected this racist, orange moron would have supported this wealthy Harley dealer.
Amanda’s district is Republitard territory and Minert would have brought big money to the campaign. The rednecks like him. The sicko hill-billy vote can make the difference in this disgustingly “red” part of Iowa.
A member of our central committee said she talked with John Stone and Jim Ragan about this possible match. They both told her they were not happy to hear that this Hell’s Angels fan was getting set to run against Amanda.
Another corporate R feeding at the public trough.
So true. I remember the $100,000 or so that Bookmeyer got the City Council to give to this man. We heard about the Minert boy’s interest in seeking this office from our neighbor, who told us she would vote for him.
When my wife told her that Minert would be like a local Donald Trump, the lady doubled down and said, all the better. We no longer speak to this neighbor, who until that very day we did not know is a Republitard. I am inclined to opine that this is, indeed, a splendid development for the party of the people. Amanda should have no problem with Miss Latham.
Why so?
Because now, Mason City will remain in Senator Reagan’s column. Tom Latham was never popular here in MC, and his relative will not fare any better. Time to pop the champagne corks.
To this, I say, Hip-hip, Hurray!
So you no longer speak to your neighbor due to their political ideology? You must be fun at parties.
I’ll bet he is a lot more popular than a Retarded Art Teacher.
Minert’s failed to follow through on their agreement with the City do they got nothing. No $100,00 grant and no tax abatement.
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.