Attorney Brad Hart declares run for Cedar Rapids mayor

CEDAR RAPIDS — Cedar Rapids attorney Brad Hart has formally declared he will run for mayor of Cedar Rapids, according to a news release from his campaign on Thursday evening.

'I'm running because I want to serve and help lead this community I've come to love so much,' Hart said in the news release. 'Our momentum is making Cedar Rapids a more exciting, welcoming and dynamic community than ever before, and that momentum-that can-do spirit-must continue.'

Hart, 61, acknowledged he was exploring a bid back in December and made the official announcement on Wednesday at the Cedar Rapids Public Library, according to the news release.

Hart specializes in mergers and acquisitions at Bradley & Riley PC where has been an attorney for 27 years. He earned his bachelor's degree in political science from Iowa State University and a law degree from South Texas College of Law in Houston.

Two-term Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett announced last year we will not seek re-election as he considers his a bid for the Republican nomination for governor, leaving an open mayoral contest on Nov. 7. The candidate filing deadline is Sept. 21.

The only other declared candidate at this point is City Council member Kris Gulick, who is also president of a financial services firm, Entrepreneurial Services Group. Several others have expressed interest.

According to Hart's campaign website, his priorities are 'to help protect us from future floods, to grow our jobs and businesses, to make sure our neighborhoods are safe and strong and to build on the sense of community we all felt by working together after the 2008 flood and to prevent the 2016 flood.'

More information on Hart and his campaign is available online at www.hart4cr.com and at hart4CR on Facebook.

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