Vernon, Hart, Shields, Vanorny spend $60,000 in lead-up to runoff

CEDAR RAPIDS - Four candidates in a runoff for two seats on the Cedar Rapids City Council spent more than $60,000 in the month leading up to Tuesday's election, according to campaign finance disclosure reports released on Thursday.

Candidates were required to disclose financial information to the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board five days before the election. The candidates - Brad Hart and Monica Vernon in the mayoral race and Justin Shields and Ashley Vanorny in the District 5 race - raised a combined $61,995 and spent a combined $63,192, according to the reports.

In the mayoral race, Hart, a business attorney with Bradley & Riley, raised $28,060 from 90 contributions from Nov. 3-25, while spending $26,007.

The top contribution was $3,000 from Sandi and Pat Cobb, of Cedar Rapids.

With $91,355, Hart was also the top fundraiser among eight mayoral candidates in disclosure reports released on Nov. 2, which was five days before the regular election.

His opponent, Vernon, a former Cedar Rapids City Council member and businesswoman, raised $20,460 from 78 contributions and spent $25,465. Her top contribution was $2,500 from the Plumbers and Pipe Fitters Local 125 Political Education Fund, of Center Point.

Vernon received the most votes on election night with 5,361 or 30 percent of the ballots cast, while Hart came in second with 3,599 votes or 20 percent. Because no candidate earned more than 50 percent, it forced a runoff.

In District 5, three-term incumbent Justin Shields, a retired Quaker Oats worker, raised $9,450 from 24 contributions and spent $10,105. The Plumbers and Pipe Fitters Local 125 Political Education Fund made a contribution of $2,500, which was the largest he received. Also among his contributions, outgoing Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett contributed $100.

Challenger Vanorny, an internet technology professional, raised $4,025 from 50 contributions and spent $1,615. Local 125 Plumbers and Pipe fitters, of Cedar Rapids, made the largest contribution of $500.

Vanorny was the top vote earner on election night with 920 votes or 43 percent. Shields received 859 votes, or 40 percent.

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