Incumbent, challenger to run for Cedar Rapids’ District 1 council seat

CEDAR RAPIDS — The candidate field for Cedar Rapids City Council is beginning to take shape with more than half the council seats coming up for election this fall.

District 1 incumbent Marty Hoeger faces a challenge from newcomer Sam Wilson, a nonprofit leader from Cedar Rapids. The district covers much of Cedar Rapids’ northeast quadrant and a small portion of the northwest quadrant by the Cedar River.

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Hoeger was first elected to City Council in 2017 and secured a second term following an uncontested election in 2021. He announced his decision to run for re-election earlier this year, citing his desire to contribute to the city’s continued growth.

“We have a great team at the city right now and some really good momentum with all the different things happening in Cedar Rapids,” said Hoeger, owner of building materials supplier Ogden & Adams. “I feel like I can add to that team and help keep that momentum moving forward.”

He highlighted the city’s flood control efforts as one project he was particularly interested in moving forward, as well as future business developments including several large-scale data center projects and the Cedar Crossing Casino & Entertainment Center.

Hoeger, 52, has spent his career working in real estate and development, having held roles as the city real estate development coordinator, as executive director of the Neighborhood Development Corp., and business development manager for Graham Construction.

In his role as council member, Hoeger sits on the city’s Development Committee and Flood Control System Committee. He also has prior and current experience with serving on the boards of multiple nonprofits.

Hoeger faces an early challenge from council hopeful Wilson, who works as partnership coordinator at the Utility Arborist Association. In that role, Wilson works to draft grant proposals and coordinate with other nonprofits, among other duties.

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Wilson has lived in Cedar Rapids for roughly a decade and has spent the entirety of that time in the nonprofit sector. Prior to the Utility Arborist Association, she spent more than eight years at the Iowa Humane Alliance.

She said her nonprofit work and the relationships she’s formed in Cedar Rapids’ broader philanthropic community are what drove her to seek elected office this fall.

“With my background, I feel strongly that the experience I have with grassroots organizing and community building … to meet people where they are and see what they need would move the needle positively in a lot of areas” related to city government, she said.

Wilson is currently seeking the necessary signatures to file for the District 1 race and said if elected that she would implement a community-oriented approach to local governance around the three pillars of human health, animal welfare and sustainable community practice.

Such efforts would include initiatives such as advocating for more resources for the homeless community, bolstering support for Cedar Rapids Animal Care & Control and amplifying the city’s efforts to increase renewable energy access.

A total of five Cedar Rapids City Council seats are up for election this fall, including District 1. Other seats coming up for election include:

O’Donnell told The Gazette she expects to have a formal announcement related to her campaign decision later this month. Remaining incumbents either did not respond to a call for comment or declined to speak on their plans at this time.

The official filing period for city elections opens Aug. 25 and runs through Sept. 18. City elections in Linn County are nonpartisan, and candidates should file the necessary paperwork with the Linn County Auditor’s Office.

Comments: grace.nieland@thegazette.com