Cedar Rapids mayoral candidate Brad Hart: ‘Motivated by the right things,’ supporter says

CEDAR RAPIDS - Barbara Rhame was phoning a friend, Jade Hart, before deciding a couple of years ago what to do about the bat that got in her house.

Rhame, 67, managed to lure the pest outside shortly after hanging up. But to her surprise Hart's husband, Brad, pulled up outside her house minutes later.

'He just drove over and said, ‘Can I help you find your bat?'” recalled Rhame, of Cedar Rapids. 'Not many people would help with a bat, but that's who he is.”

Brad Hart, 61, also is a candidate for Cedar Rapids mayor, competing against Monica Vernon in Tuesday's runoff.

Rhame was one of 199 people or organizations - 83 percent from a Cedar Rapids mailing address - who opened their wallets to support his campaign, according to data from Hart's Nov. 2 campaign disclosure.

Of the total value of contributions, a majority came locally. His campaign reported raising $91,355, of which 77 percent - or $70,149 - came from a Cedar Rapids mailing address.

Many of the donors knew Hart from one aspect of his life or another. They paint a similar picture of a 'nice guy” who's active at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, a trusted business lawyer and committed volunteer to community causes, such as helping rebuild the public library.

Hart describes himself as a community servant-leader with a fresh perspective and without political aspirations beyond mayor. He draws a contrast with his opponent by saying Vernon's political history as a Democratic candidate for higher office has created rifts that could disadvantage Cedar Rapids when working at the state or federal level for support.

Hart grew up in Burlington and envisioned himself as an English teacher, but shifted toward law as a profession providing more opportunities. He could focus on reading and writing, which he enjoyed, rather than math, which he didn't. Being a lawyer, he said, has helped train his analytical mind.

He graduated from Iowa State University, earning a bachelor's degree in political science and minor in philosophy and English. In 1979, he moved to Houston, where he earned a law degree from South Texas College of Law, started his career and married his high school sweetheart, Jade, with whom he now has two adult children, Will and Alison.

Leaving Houston was one of his toughest choices, he said. Houston offered a big city and professional sports, and at a young age he had earned partner in his law firm.

But when his daughter was born, his priorities changed.

'We came back here so she'd go to good public schools, there were more opportunities for us to get involved, and she'd grow up knowing her family,” Hart said.

In 1990, life started over in Cedar Rapids where Hart joined the Bradley & Riley law firm.

That's where Michele Busse, who now works for Rockwell Collins, met Hart. They both practiced transactional law. After she left, they've stayed in touch, including playing in the same foursome every year at the annual Linn County Bar Association golf tournament.

She remembers during their time at Bradley & Riley, where Hart still works, his quality work and the respectful way he treated clients. They trusted him and 'always go back,” she said.

'He is the nicest guy,” Busse said. 'He is a very, very kind human who is motivated by the right things.”

Rhame first got to know Hart when their families had children in Montessori school and he was an active dad. Decades later, their families remain close.

'He is a very thoughtful person who looks at situations and you see him weighing things for the betterment of the city,” she said.

After returning to Iowa, Hart quickly engaged. He graduated from Leadership for Five Seasons in 1992 and became a trustee of the program. He volunteered for the Chamber of Commerce, served as board chairman for the Young Parents Network and more recently chaired the United Way of East Central Iowa's annual fundraising campaign.

Many remember him for his lead roles raising money for a new Cedar Rapids Public Library after the 2008 flood destroyed the old one, or the campaign to renovate the aging St. Paul's.

Gale Beer, 77, of Cedar Rapids, met Hart through St. Paul's. He and her husband, Dean, served on the church's finance committee.

She recalls his dedication to community causes, notably supporting a local-option sales tax vote in 2012 and a library levy in 2015, and how 'upset” we was when the votes failed.

She also remembered a time he was dreading making a speech for a church initiative.

'He had to speak at something and was scared to death. Look how far he's come,” Beer joked. 'He didn't want to do it but did it because he cares. ... He has the enthusiasm and ability to put forth a lot for others' benefit - not for his benefit.”

Hart said once Mayor Ron Corbett announced he would not seek a third term, he decided to try to move into a new realm for his community: politics. And, rather than seek any seat on the City Council, set his sights on the job he felt could have the most impact.

As a mentor once told him, 'If you are volunteering for a cause or an organization, and you don't see yourself stepping into a leadership role, you probably don't care enough,” he said.

l Comments: (319) 339-3177; brian.morelli@thegazette.com