Corbett welcomes Fagan into mayoral race; predicts 'spirited' debate

Mayoral candidate Ron Corbett, who has been running for Cedar Rapids mayor by himself since March, is welcoming City Council member Brian Fagan's entry into the race.

Fagan said he would run for mayor on Thursday, and he kicked off his campaign Friday evening at a gathering in Czech Village.

"Elections are about choices and the people of Cedar Rapids deserve one in this election,” Corbett said on Friday. “I welcome the entrance of Brian Fagan because it will give voters an opportunity to hear a quality debate on several important issues.”

Corbett said he is looking forward to asking Fagan why the City Council has not passed a 'buy local' resolution as the city rebuilds from the June 2008 flood.

Corbett also said he will challenge Fagan on taxes. He said Fagan has supported a new tax on citizen utility bills, higher property taxes and higher water fees after voters had already approved a sales tax increase. 

Corbett has coined the slogan “culture of delay” to describe what he says has been too little action by City Hall since the flood, and he said he will also challenge Fagan on that.

“The city deserves a spirited debate on the issues and we welcome that opportunity on the few remaining days left before the election,” Corbett said.

Fagan has called for a short campaign without a need to raise large sums of campaign cash.

Corbett on Friday said he needed to launch his own campaign in March and he's needed to raise cash to battle what he said is the natural advantage that comes to Fagan with incumbency and with the name recognition he has acquired from four years in office.

Corbett, 48, is vice president at trucking firm CRST International Inc., a past president/CEO of the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce and a former state lawmaker and speaker of the Iowa House of Representatives.

Fagan, 37, is an attorney at Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman. He was elected to an at-large seat on the nine-member City Council in 2005. He is mayor pro tem of the council as chosen by his council colleagues.