Tiffany O’Donnell outraising incumbent Brad Hart in race for Cedar Rapids mayor

CEDAR RAPIDS — As the only other candidate to take up Cedar Rapids Mayor Brad Hart’s challenge to his three rivals to share who’s bankrolling their campaigns weeks before a legal deadline requires it, Women Lead Change Chief Executive Officer Tiffany O’Donnell reported Friday having raised nearly twice as much as Hart, the incumbent, so far in the competitive election.

Hart’s release of his information, promised in a virtual forum hosted by The Gazette, was his effort to show “broad local support” and appeal across political parties. His campaign urged the other mayoral hopefuls to “join them in being fully transparent with the voters by releasing donor information” from Jan. 1 through Sept. 30 by Oct. 8. The state’s deadline for candidates to file the information is Oct. 28, five days before the Nov. 2 election.

Brad Hart campaign donations by Gazette Online on Scribd

O’Donnell followed suit Friday, but TrueNorth executive Amara Andrews said Friday she will not share that information earlier than required with voters.

The two candidates during Thursday’s forum sparred over their partisan political ties. Hart, seeking to emphasize that the election is nonpartisan, vowed to publicly release his campaign contributions.

Another mayoral candidate, Quaker Oats employee Myra Colby Bradwell, said he is not fundraising and has not filed paperwork with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board.

Tiffany O'Donnell campaign donors by Gazette Online on Scribd

“The mayor and council serve in a nonpartisan role,” Hart said Thursday at the forum. “That means we don't run or serve as Democrats, Republicans and that's what makes us effective. I'm really proud of the support that I've received from this community, and I have not sought or received money from any political party or from anyone representing interests or political parties outside of Cedar Rapids, or Iowa. It's important for Cedar Rapidians to know who's supporting each of our candidates.”

So far, O’Donnell reported having raised $113,285 from 262 contributions. The majority were from Cedar Rapids, and nearly 50 contributions amounting to $16,775 came from other Iowa communities — many of which were in the Corridor. From out-of-state contributors, she has raised $5,850 with three contributions from Florida; two each from California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana and Texas; and one each from Arizona, Connecticut, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Nevada and South Carolina.

Hart reported having raised $62,780 so far from 192 donors. Most were from Cedar Rapids, and 25 contributions totaling $5,740 came from other Iowa cities — several in the metro area. Of his out-of-state contributions, which totaled $6,600, two were from Florida, and one each came from California, Colorado, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Texas and Wisconsin.

Hart in a statement Friday said, “I assume no one has anything to hide and all the candidates in this race will follow through on this gesture for more transparency in local races.”

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

The information Hart and O’Donnell provided Friday is unofficial. City Council and mayoral candidates must file an official report with the state if they raised or spent over $1,000. The financial disclosures covering the campaign season through the 10th day before the Nov. 2 election are due to the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board on Oct. 28.

By the time that filing deadline approaches, absentee and in-person early voting already will have been underway for the election. Early voting begins Oct. 13 — about two weeks before the deadline.

O’Donnell, who immediately took up Hart’s offer to share the information during Thursday’s forum and challenging others to do the same, said “my money comes from individuals — not PACs, corporations or parties.”

“Mayor Hart, I appreciate that and if you're willing to do that I'll do the same,” O’Donnell said Thursday. “I can release my donors tomorrow as well, and I would challenge the other candidates to do that. … I never thought I'd be sitting here as a candidate for mayor, and I'm not a politician — have no desire to be one. I'm a person that believes in my city and I want to do my part to make it a better place.”

Contrasting herself with Andrews, O’Donnell said in the forum that “I'm somebody who is, unlike Ms. Andrews, not beholden to a political party. I didn't get money from EMILY's List,” referring to Andrews’ endorsement from a political action committee that aims to help elect Democratic female candidates in favor of abortion rights. “I haven't gotten money from any Republican group.”

O’Donnell told The Gazette on Friday that transparency is important to her and people should know where campaign support comes from, especially in a local election. She noted that her donors come from “all walks of life, all political persuasions.”

“Transparency in all things is important to me,” O’Donnell said. “This is a great indicator — if you want to know how I’ll run the city, this is a good indicator of how I’ll do it. … I welcome the opportunity to share who my supporters are.”

Andrews is running as a progressive candidate and in fundraising emails has tied O’Donnell to Republican politicians. A statement from her campaign said:

“Our campaign has received contributions from Cedar Rapidians in every quadrant. We’ve also received contributions from friends and family members across the country. Our campaign will comply with the rules set forth by the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board and file our contribution reports” on Oct. 28.

Asked about the implication that her fundraising was from out-of-state groups and whether that contributed to the decision not to release information now, Andrews’ campaign said: “We’re proud of the support we’ve received so far from friends near and far. This 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. I’m carrying the hopes and dreams of a lot of voices that have gone unheard for a very long time, and I’m incredibly grateful to have their trust.”

Bradwell, formerly known as Gregory Hughes, said his campaign was a grassroots effort. “I'm not fundraising,” he said. “I'm not trying to get money. I tell people all the time, ‘You really want to help me, vote for me and get five people to vote.’ I think you're going to see a big change … You can see right now we have three people that are fighting about Democrats and Republicans. This is a Cedar Rapids issue, this is a nonpartisan issue, but yet they'll want to talk about whether you're a Democrat, Republican, whatever. You need to think about Cedar Rapids and the people here.”

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