Corbett may set record for mayoral campaign contributions

Mayor Ron Corbett likely set a record in 2009 for contributions to a Cedar Rapids mayoral campaign.

With new documents filed this week with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board, Corbett's mayoral campaign reports that it raised $129,317 for Corbett, an amount that helped him secure an easy victory over then-City Council member Brian Fagan.

Meanwhile, Fagan's campaign raised $37,726 to go with $2,748 he had on hand from his successful 2005 City Council race, according to his campaign reports.

Corbett's contribution total exceeds what had been thought to be the most raised by a Cedar Rapids mayoral candidate - $123,714 that Mayor Lee Clancey amassed in 2001 in her unsuccessful re-election bid against Paul Pate. Clancey's total that year included $105,980 in contributions, $7,799 from an earlier race and a $20,000 loan from her husband, Jay. Pate raised about $80,000 that year.

In Cedar Rapids' 2005 mayoral race, winner Kay Halloran and opponent Scott Olson both raised a little more than $50,000, though $20,050 of Halloran's contributions came from herself.