Amara Andrews raises over $180,000, topping Cedar Rapids mayoral field

CEDAR RAPIDS — Two candidates challenging incumbent Brad Hart in a contentious four-way race to become Cedar Rapids’ next mayor each have outraised him by tens of thousands of dollars, with Amara Andrews taking the fundraising lead largely thanks to out-of-state contributions.

Andrews, a TrueNorth executive, has raised $181,440 in her bid for City Hall, according to campaign reports filed Thursday, five days before Tuesday’s local elections. This dwarfs figures reported by Hart and Women Lead Change Chief Executive Officer Tiffany O’Donnell, who raised $80,783.63 and $136,770, respectively.

Overall, mayoral campaigns reported contributions totaling $398,993.63 and spending amounting to $361,254.79 — exceeding the 2017 mayoral race. That year, eight candidates raised $372,763 and spent $254,154.

Of Andrews’ 932 contributions, about 54 percent — nearly 500 — come from Iowa, making up $60,101, or one-third of her total. She has the most local donors in the field, but the least local money raised — 385 contributions come from Cedar Rapids, providing $48,223. The other $121,339 comes from 433 out-of-state contributions.

“People all over the state and country recognize the significance of our campaign,” campaign manager Sarah Halbrook said in a statement. “More Cedar Rapidians gave to our campaign than to any other candidate running for office. We know it’s because Amara Andrews is inspiring as is her vision for our city. This excitement is reflected in the generous support we have received, which includes a tremendous local volunteer effort working at the grassroots level.”

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In terms of the raw dollar amount, O’Donnell had the most local support. She raised $128,420 from 315 Iowa contributions, with $103,845 of that sum coming from 246 Cedar Rapids donors. O’Donnell received another $8,350 from 27 out-of-state donations.

“I feel that my campaign reflects the values of Cedar Rapids,” said O’Donnell, adding that she was proud of her mostly local support. “It reflects the hopes of Cedar Rapids, and I look forward to following through on all the priorities I’ve talked about.”

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Hart raised less than he did in his 2017 bid for mayor, when he raised $91,355 before the election. Nine contributions totaling $7,600 come from outside Iowa. The other $72,855 was raised from 210 Iowa contributions — with $64,115 of those funds coming from 178 Cedar Rapids donors.

“With Tiffany and Amara working hard to raise money, it was a little harder to raise money this time,” Hart said. “I think a lot of people just thought, ‘Well he’s mayor, he doesn’t need my help this time.’ But we’re fine … We spent a whole bunch of money on TV, which is what we needed to do. If we get into a runoff then I will raise money, and I think it will be relatively easy to raise that depending on who my opponent is.”

He mentioned his high share of local supporters compared with Andrews, with his funds mostly coming Cedar Rapids: “That’s what it should be. This is a local race.”

Don’t see the chart for Hart? Click here

The part-time job of Cedar Rapids mayor pays about $39,000 a year.

Local candidates must file a report with the state if they raised or spent over $1,000. The financial disclosures released Thursday cover the campaign season through the 10th day before the election.

Hart and O’Donnell had shared who’s bankrolling their campaigns earlier this month, and touted their local support while raising speculation about the amount of donors from beyond state lines fueling Andrews’ campaign.

Andrews had then declined to share her donor list until required.

Andrews’ campaign also has received support from several labor unions and some political action committees, including EMILY’s List, which works to elect women who support abortion rights, and the Collective PAC, an organization that seeks to help candidates of color win.

O’Donnell has trumpeted her own support from individuals and not PACs or political parties, saying she was “somebody who is, unlike Ms. Andrews, not beholden to a political party.” Most of Andrews’ donors are individuals as well, but she is campaigning as the only Democrat in the race for nonpartisan office against registered Republicans.

“It feels as though this was bought and paid for by out-of-state donors and the Democratic Party,” O’Donnell said.

Andrews’ campaign previously said her level of support from outside Iowa “is what happens when you present a progressive, inclusive vision for the community: you get buy-in from people who have seen their city change for the better, or are inspired and hope that their community can change too.”

The fourth candidate, Quaker Oats employee Myra Colby Bradwell, formerly known as Gregory Hughes, has said he is not fundraising for his campaign.

Spending

Andrews reported $16,945.10 on hand, and her spending list showed $164,494.90. That includes $15,620 for Sage Strategies, Linn County Supervisor Stacey Walker’s consulting firm, which was formed in March.

O’Donnell reported spending $123,724.21 and $13,045.79 cash on hand. Hart had $2,747.95 on hand, after spending $73,035.68.

District 3

The only other contested Cedar Rapids City Council race Tuesday is for District 3, which encompasses much of southeast Cedar Rapids, including downtown and NewBo, plus parts of the southwest quadrant.

Incumbent Dale Todd, regional director of Hatch Development, took the fundraising lead with $38,817.41 from 205 contributions, and he still had $21,322.56 on hand. Todd started with $1,592.41 in his account.

Linn County Sustainability Manager Tamara Marcus raised $23,949.28, but those funds came from 337 contributions, so she had a higher amount of donors who gave in smaller amounts. Marcus had $3,589.50 on hand.

Comments: (319) 398-8494; marissa.payne@thegazette.com