MASON CITY – After a local radio station allowed Mason City Mayor Eric Bookmeyer to go berzerk on its airwaves, and then posted the hate-filled rant to its website, the radio station is now asking challengers to the mayor’s banana republic government to by ads.
“We have five great radio stations,” a hand-written letter from Three Eagles radio management said to Second Ward City Council candidate Sheryl Gerk. “Not sure where you’re planning to advertise, but radio is a great place!”
Mayor Bookmeyer found out how great radio advertising is, using a several minute diatribe on October 2nd on KGLO Radio to name-call a Mason City citizen – Matt Marquardt, who is not running against him for office – and then brazenly and recklessly threw at least two other candidates – Max Weaver and Jodi Draper – under the bus with him. Radio “personality” Bobby Fisher allowed Bookmeyer to speak minute after minute, degrading and name-calling his own fellow citizens, as Fisher helped finish sentences for Eric Bookmeyer and made no attempt to guide the interview back on-topic.
“It was a cowardly move, by a man who has belittled and abused the people of Mason City for over three years,” Mr. Marquardt said later. “Bobby Fisher ought to be ashamed of himself, but we all know how he wants to be Eric’s friend.”
In a deft move, Mayor Bookmeyer alerted a local newspaper reporter to listen to the diatribe so that a story could be published to give the story longer life, just as news hit the media about a complaint filed against himself and his cohorts on the City Council.
Three Eagles later altered the audio it had published to its website, removing all of Bobby Fisher’s words as Mayor Eric Bookmeyer seemed to enter a trance-like state and spewed hate over the airwaves. Just hours later, after complaints were called into Three Eagles, the audio file was removed from the website.
“John Skipper called me within minutes of the radio show ending,” Mr. Marquardt stated. “I think he wanted to catch me off-guard. He was paraphrasing from the radio show, had his quotes wrong, as far as I could tell. It was bush league at best. I refused to respond at the moment and later emailed my response: A challenge to the mayor and my opponent, Janet Solberg, to face me in a public debate.”
Now, Three Eagles wants advertising dollars from the citizens running against the incumbents.
“I seriously doubt I will pay for it,” Ms. Gerk said.
“I think Delena Barz and Tim Flemming at Three Eagles are good people. They tried to be somewhat fair to me, to make up for Bobby Fisher’s actions, the mayor’s actions,” Mr. Marquardt said. “As far as buying ads from them, well, they didn’t ask me yet.”
ummm…I believe there are FCC laws based on candidates receiving free air-time…if 1 receives it, the others are to be offered the same opportunity…
Pure sleaze. We are damn lucky Matt, Jodi, Max and Leonard would wade into this cesspool and try to do what’s right. Real courage to battle these heathens. They won’t all win, but if we’re lucky, 2-3 of them will.
All the media is selling ads..the globe, radio stations, billboard company, shopper and even Nit. It’s what they do to pay the bills? they have to accept the ads from anyone but do have the right to reject specific statements.
Not sure why this is news to be honest? They are a business and part of that business is to sell advertising. I’m sure the incumbents that don’t currently have ads with them received the same letters. Kind of feels like this is just another attempt to split the community rather than real reporting IMO.
Jodi is a class act and will do very well for the people of Mason City.
That’s all good and fine Jodi, we want you for sure.
But get ready you would be dealing with serious scum. They will stop at nothing and will try to draw you in.
The words spoken so far are nothing compared to wha they are capable of so hang on tight and find some of your words to spew when the time comes.
Best luck! VOTE JODI
I talked to Ken Draper the other evening out on the front Lawn. (Husband to Jodi) He smiled and said my wife just shook her head and said who wants to talk about issues? and not character assisnations? I asked him if she was going to comment on the issue and he said that is her choice, but so far she has more important things to worry about, the Citizens of Mason City to get to know who she is and why they should vote for her. I had just missed her as she was out knocking on doors.
I can’t beleive fisher or skipper or and media thinks any of this ok? They would shit if Matt or Max pulled this off.
Disgusting humans. What do their families think? Certainly their entire families aren’t all crooked and bad people OR ARE THEY?