MASON CITY – The final two candidates for City office made it official Thursday.
Quinn Symonds, 31, turned in paperwork in his bid for the Mayor’s seat. He joins Max Weaver and Eric Bookmeyer on the ballot.
Sheryl Jean Gerk, 64, also became an official candidate, joining the race for the Second Ward City Council seat. She joins Jodi Draper and Travis Hickey on the ballot.
Quinn Symonds told NIT Friday morning: “I am pleased to announce that my candidacy has been filed and the people of Mason City have chosen me as one of the three running for mayor. Many of you have already heard some of the items on my agenda to help our town become what it should have been a long time ago; a safe and prosperable place to raise our children, start a business and live. I was surprised as most were to hear Mr. Weaver throw his name in the hat and I wish both him and Mr. Bookmeyer the best of luck this election season, and I will relish my position as the “wildcard”. There will be many issues and ideas that I will be bringing up during this election cycle and I encourage you to listen and stay informed as we have a lot of ground to cover in the next few months. I wish you all a safe and fun weekend.”
Sheryl Gerk told NIT on Tuesday evening that she had designs on running for office this fall. She said that she is a native of Mason City and attended parochial school at Holy Family while graduating from Mason City High School in 1966. She also said that she is a 1968 graduate of Mason City Junior College as a salutatorian of the class. In addition, Ms. Gerk said that she obtained a teaching degree for Minnesota and Iowa licensure (and has substitute taught at areas schools) and she says she obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1976 (Summa Cum Laude) from Mankato State College. Ms. Gerk lists previous employers as the United States Federal Government at the National Institute of Education in the Office of Planning, Budget and Program Analysis and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for International Affairs in Washington, D.C. She further says that she has had training as a laims representative with the Social Security Administration in Iowa.
“My education and employment abilities have prepared me,” for serving on the City Council, Ms. Gerk said.
The election is November 5th. Absentee voting begins October 7th at the courthouse in Mason City and continues there through November 5th.
Mr.Symonds: Please, please drop out of the race — remember Ross Perot — if you stay in you may be the cause of Max losing. Think about it!
He should quit, but he won’t. Too stubborn. Doesn’t even know how in over his head he really is.
Just imagine, Cheryl Gerk and Leonard Foster on the same council. That should bring new business prospects running to Mason City!
You don,t have to talk to her. Just tune in to the council meeting and listen, then try to tell what she said.
And, I doubt it would take ten minutes!
If you can stand to be near her that long. The smell will make you pass out!
I’m so glad Max decided to run. I wasn’t thrilled with the less than stellar choices we had; Inexperienced vs Ineffective. Altho I wish Quinn had come to my house when he was walking around in his ragged hoodie, just so I could’ve laughed and shut the door on his face. Best of luck Max, I hope you win. Bookmeyer has had too much time to run MC in the ground.
Its interesting to me that I’ve seen a few comments about my only hoody, which is practically brand new. I haven’t worn it once door knocking but I did have it on when I ran into max while turning in my signatures at city hall however. I’m just curious if you’ve seen me in it or if this is an attempt to pose me as some sort of bum by another party.
But Quinn, some say you are a bumb. Some say you struggled to remember your address when you talked at the council podium. Some say you live in another area town. What say you, young Quinnster?
Prefacing every rumor with some say gives you the opportunity to say whatever you want without any validity to your claims, some say.
Oh, and an FYI I’m dyslexic. Numbers sometimes get jumbled in my head. If that’s an issue with you I’m sorry.
Actually I was told of your appearence by a friend of mine you tried to get to sign. My friend blew you off, made up a reason to leave quickly.
Just consider this, I wear shorts for as long as I can, why? Because I’m very warm blooded, I get very warm easily. 98% of the signatures I gathered were at garage sales during a weekend that was unseasonably warm. I was not wearing a hoody, my only hoody, my practically brand new hoody. Either your friend is not being truthful or someone is spreading rumors and this is the silliest smear tactic in the history of politics.
Quinn that’s just stupid. What?, you heard that line some where and thought hmmm this sounds like a good place to use it.
Makes zero sense. There is no slippery slope about it, doesn’t apply here at all. You are clearly NOT thinking of us.
I haven’t wanted to ask because you seem nice enough, dumb but nice.
What about being ARRESTED and WHERE do you REALLY live?
Theres your real slippery slope just so you know. Little iffy isn’t it
Get out !
Yes, is this the same Quinn found on Iowa Courts with several different charges and two protection orders against him?
I got arrested after going after the puke that punched my estranged wife in the face twice. And read the filings on those protection orders as they were illegal and dismissed quickly.
Actually I know a lot about fallacious logic. I could sit and dissect your post and point out why it is what it is but people already think I’m pompous for defending my right to run for office. A decision I made a year ago and announced in April. Nobody has brought up issues and I’ve left an open invitation to go nearly anywhere and talk about them but you’re all to busy saying I should bow out so you can’t say I don’t care because you don’t know. Max should have run for at large, a more vulnerable position. Max was my political mentor when I ran for city council six years ago so I know full in well how he and his operate. Don’t be mad at me because I said I’m not backing down, weaver made a quick decision to run, ask him to bow out.
MAX didn’t know he would do it until the very minute he got up that day guarenteed.
Panic mode for everyone thinking of Bookmeyer again! Something HAD to be done.
Your comments keep sealing the deal for you Quinn, you sound nothing but vengeful and like you are better then anyone. Honestly think beyond your personal scope. You sound quite the opposite of a genuine concerned person for the people.
Look in the mirror and ask yourself…really can I really WIN? Why am I really doing this if I can’t? You can’t possibly think you will so why be such a brat? Your age and ignorance is shining through.
Quinn it’s the truth.
Now everyone knows it about you.
It’s pretty shady that max decided to run at the last minute. Either Quinn or Max need to drop out. In fairness, Max is nothing but a power hungry publicity seeker who only thinks of himself; the way he handled this proves or.
@Reggie-what is shady about it?? It seems to me that the mayor (your god) and his henchmen Hickey and Solberg all announced in the last week or so. I didn’t hear you calling that shady. If you want to talk about power hungry look at your buddy the mayor and his under the table tricks. You are just afraid that Max will beat the hell out of him and you will lose your edge. All elitist need to be very afraid when Max, Matt, Jodi and Leonard get in. It will be a new day and it is about time.
Quinn quinn we hear you and rightfully so. Be smart . This speaks volumes of not really understanding good government and the process. It’s a game and if you truly CARE of the citizens of Mason city do it another time.
If you know anything about it you would see it. Certainly you have seen this before and what the logical ones do. This is an indicator also of the real you and the die hards wrote you off already for good.
Who wants that blood on their hands….Bookmeyer really? It’s on you. Earn your votes for doing the right thing now for next time.
Be known for that not a stubborn young brat who doesn’t GET it or in reality doesn’t really care.
That’s a great example of a slippery slope argument.
Quinn. There have been alot of very good presidential candidates in the past that have dropped out in support of another candidate. They were smart enough to understand the votes were not there. talk it over with Max. everyone will support you for dropping out and thank you for supporting Max.
That’s all fine and dandy but if max didn’t think I was good enough to beat bookmeyer he should have said said something to me during one of the several times I’ve talked to him throughout the summer about my campaign. I’m not stepping down. I don’t know if he was counting on it but when I ran for city council six years ago. I know how he we works and I’m not dropping out. People deserve the choice. I know max is against one of my biggest ideas for mason city band that’s reason enough to stay in the game. If people can’t respect that they should question why he is running.
Cell phones are not great for this sort of conversation.
One of your major platforms is about the Mason City band?
While I greatly appreciate the input in these comments but you’re asking someone who told max back in January that I was running for mayor and he told me he was running for at large. So thanks but no thanks I won’t back down or out. In fact max running has motivated me even more to try harder to win this election. I believe with my temperament,ideas and passion I can do this position than either candidates. Many of you appreciate Max’s fighting spirit, so maybe you will appreciate mine. If bookmeyer wins it will be both mine and Max’s fault for not being what mason city wants. But once again thanks but no thanks I’m not stepping down for any reason. I hope you all pay attention to the issues and the history of the other two candidates. I greatly look forward to at least one debate between the two.
Quin, I agree with the points LVS made and what logical said. You keep telling us you have a platform but every interview I have seen you in you seem to have no clue when are asked questions that are very simple to answer. (Not trying to say anything negative but you are not ready yet.) Any votes for you will be votes for Bookmeyer and taken away from Max. Take some time and learn the issues, attend meetings and learn what is going on in the City. As logical said, people will rember you next time and respect you for throwing your support to and helping Max with his election. You don’t want to be known as the guy that kept Bookmeyer in office for another 4 years.
My interviews with matt are very casual and I rarely know where he’s going to take it. Have you seen me in a debate or talked to me in person? I’m not taking what you said personally, I’m just asking. I would love to speak with you one on one, or anyone for that matter about the issues that matter in this town. My phone number and email address are both on this very site. Send me a text or an email and let me convince you I’m the right man for the job.
And let’s be real here, everyone knew I was running for mayor since April. If anyone is going to be known as the guy that let bookmeyer win its the guy who figured out he was running a week before the due date.
Do you think Sheryl will hurt Jodi by taking votes away from her? I hope not.
MC 83, it will not help Jodi, anytime you have 2 canidates running against an opponent it is an up hill battle. Jodi got a head start but the fact is, it will not help Jodi. Anyone remember Ross Perot? In the 1992 election, he received 18.9% of the popular vote. No matter what party you belong to, if you split the votes, you are in for a harder challenge.
Not knowing Ms. Gerk, I wonder if she is a friend of bookies or the council? Only running to take votes away from Jodi?
Ms gerk is someone who wants accountability in city government. She gets the run around by council members, as do I.
Run Quinn Run! (said in my best Forest Gump voice)
I think it was Jenny that said that.
Quinn-why don’t you gracefully bow out and give your support to Max. If you do it will look very good in the future. The way it is now you won’t win but you just might pull enough votes to keep Max from beating Bookie.
Exactly Max won and election in 1993 by only 16 votes, sure would be sad if Quinn thought the 150 or so votes he gets were worth causing Max to lose. Think about it Quinn under Bookmeyer you have become jobless and been thrown in jail atleast once by his employees.
I think that people have the right to vote for whoever they want and if someone wants to run and meets the minimum qualifications, more power to them. I’m sick that people are pressuring Quinn to drop out. He has just as much right as Bookmeyer and Weaver to be running for office. Seriously, this is the USA not Russia, people.
even someone like me who does not live in Mason, can understand that you only want the votes divided so booky can win.
And to Quinn. Please understand that nobody is actually against you. They would simply like to see all support for one candidate in order to get enough votes against the incumbent.
I don’t think even insinuated I think any of these people were against me. I deserve to run, I announced I was running quite some time ago. I think a lot of you are underestimating my support and my convictions. If people are worried about the votes being split they should ask Weaver why he decided so late in the game to run and not hassle me for trying to make a difference and set an example for other potential candidates that might be too scared to run.
Quinn you probably are a great enough kid but you need to back out. I take it you are more along the lines of a people person and want to help unlike Bookmeyer.
With that be at your most sensible moment and back out! Why screw with a few numbers. Let’s get this Bookmeyer cat out for good.
You will have time enough to run and run down the road. We need some action now.. being a wildcard isn’t advantageous right now or even cool. You don’t want to come off as arrogant for a few minutes of attention. Guarenteed if you step down people will remember you for the next time. A sensible move on your part.
Picture Bookmeyer another term. Makes me shiver I know it does you too.