$30,000 already raised in Cedar Rapids mayoral race

CEDAR RAPIDS - The election may still be 10 months away, but two contenders for what will be an open race for the Cedar Rapids mayoral seat are already in fundraising mode, with a total of nearly $30,000 raised so far.

Kris Gulick, a Cedar Rapids City Council member and president of Entrepreneurial Services Group, is off to the early lead in the financial aspect of the campaign. Gulick reported $25,028 in contributions during the first filing period of 2017 and ended with a total of $28,213 cash on hand, according to his filing with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board.

The filing deadline was Jan. 19.

Gary Hinzman, a former Cedar Rapids police chief and Department of Corrections official, raised $4,450 and ended with a total of $5,300 cash on hand, according to his financial report. Hinzman told The Gazette in December he was taking steps toward a run, but has yet to formally declare.

Attorney Brad Hart, who announced his candidacy for mayor earlier this week, filed a statement of organization for the Hart for Mayor Committee last month, but did not report any fundraising. Jim Haddad, of Cedar Rapids, is identified as the treasurer of his campaign committee.

Gulick brought in 21 contributions, three of which came last summer while the rest poured in after Gulick declared his candidacy on Dec. 19. The largest came from local developers and business executives.

Duane Smith, president of TrueNorth Co., and local developer Steve Emerson each donated $5,000. Developer Jon Dusek's CEMAR Holdings LLC, contributed $4,000. Charles Rohde, president of King's Material, and developer Fred Timko each contributed $2,000. Kyle Skogman, president of Skogman Homes; William Bogert, president of the Anderson Bogert engineering firm; Marshall Petersen, president of Hawkeye Oil Co.; and Thomas Slattery, president of Heritage Associates Corp., each kicked in $1,000.

Gulick reported spending $133 in April and June on constituent expenses, parade candy and food for a fundraiser. Gulick's treasurer is identified as Bonnie Beardsworth of Cedar Rapids.

Hinzman's contributions rolled in from Sept. 15 to Nov. 18. The top contributions include $2,500 from Patrick Cobb of Hiawatha, and $1,000 from Wayne Engle of Marion. He also reported he personally loaned $2,000 to the campaign. Hinzman spent $1,150 on professional fees and consultant services in November, according to his filing.

Hinzman's campaign committee includes Al Pierson, who is active in the Northwest Neighborhood Association and owns Pierson's Flower Shop, 1800 Ellis Blvd. NW, as chairman and Kim Reem, of Marion, as treasurer.

The seats for city council and mayor are considered non-partisan, and no political parties were listed on the filings. Gulick identified as an independent, while Hart marked 'other” and Hinzman's form said not available.

Two-term Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett announced last year he does not plan to seek re-election as he considers seeking the Republican nomination for governor, leaving an open mayoral contest on Nov. 7. The candidate filing deadline is Sept. 21. Others have also expressed interest.

Corbett raised approximately $125,000 on his first run for mayor in 2009 and approximately $100,000 when he ran for re-election in 2013, according to past filings.

l Comments: (319) 339-3177; brian.morelli@thegazette.com