1. City Council Candidate attacks City Staffer religion, looks at meeting.

            This is not true in any way and did not happen. 

2.  Weaver was not invited to speak

I was invited by one of the Board of Directors of the Landlord Association to come and speak, and during the meeting I was introduced as a City Council Candidate and invited to the podium.

3. Implied that Mason City’s planning and zoning manager, Tricia Sandahl’s religion and physical appearance were reasons to remove her from her post, according to sources.

Completely untrue. This did not happen at any point during the meeting.  Here is what was actually said.  I was discussing Ms. Sandahl’s job performance, when someone shouted from the audience “It will cost the city $800,000 to get rid of her.”  I said, “No it won’t. She serves at will, and state code has given local government the ability to go into closed session to discuss an employee’s performance.”  I then said, “there will be some form of litigation I’m sure. Ms. Sandahl will likely use the fact that she’s a female, over 50, Muslim, and overweight to save her job.” 

4. Brian Huntley could not remember Weaver’s last words but confirmed that they were “something along those lines.” 

Typical Globe Gazette reporting…

5. Weaver didn’t dispute that he commented about Sandahl

I don’t dispute that.  I did talk about her job performance – and it is a campaign issue.  I did not talk about her looks or religion as it relates to her job performance. 

6.  I didn’t know anybody was offended at the meeting, Weaver said.

The atmosphere in the room was positive, with a lot of head nodding and raised hands when asked who had had issues with Tricia Sandahl in the past.  

7.  Development Services Department Director, Steven Van Steenhuyse, said that he hasn’t received any formal complaints from members of the community about her performance. 

Let’s ask him that question again under oath.

8.  Brian Huntley, Landlord Association President, stated in his letter that made its way to the Globe gazette, “I have always done my best to make sure any political or religious conversations stay at the door, outside of our meetings.”  Huntley went on to state “I was shocked, appalled and disappointed how it all played out.”

Well, Mr. Huntley, so was I.  For an Association President with your strong convictions to let me speak for 40 minutes, while feeling shocked, appalled and disappointed…..I’m curious why you didn’t just stop me.  I find this disturbing.   

Mr. Huntley, you might want to review your meeting rules, because not everyone was appalled.  I huddled with 5 landlords after the meeting and did not receive any negative comments.  A landlord came and shook my hand and said they were glad to see me running.  Another landlord approached me, offering me a plate of brownies, and said “you have my vote.”  And the conversation continued in the parking lot, so everyone was clearly not shocked, appalled and disappointed. 

Later…..MFW