Corbett steers leftover campaign cash to Gazette ad on ‘accomplishments’

What's an elected official to do with extra campaign cash?

According to campaign documents filed with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board, Mayor Ron Corbett still has $5,884 left from last year's mayor race, a contest in which he raised $129,317 in contributions, according to campaign documents.

On Saturday, Corbett reports that he will spend $1,386 of what remains in his campaign war chest for an ad in The Gazette. The ad, addressed to “friends and neighbors,” is intended to document what the mayor believes are his and the City Council's accomplishments during his first four months in office. The list numbers 20 accomplishments.

In last year's mayoral race, Corbett raised what is thought to be the most ever by a Cedar Rapids mayoral candidate. In 2001, then-Mayor Lee Clancey raised $123,714 in her unsuccessful re-election bid against Paul Pate. Pate raised about $80,000 that year.