I AM QUENTIN HART.

Welcome to Quentin Hart's personal website, a place where you can learn all about Mayor Q. “The Mayor is the Chief Executive Officer of the city and presiding officer of the council. Except for the supervisory duties which have been delegated by law to a city manager, the mayor shall supervise all city officers and departments.” – State of Iowa Code.

Mayor Hart Bio (December 2025)

Now in his fifth term, Quentin Hart is the first African American to serve as the Mayor of Waterloo, Iowa. Under his direction, he has raised the profile of the eastern Iowa community on a national stage. This past year, he was named Mayor of the Year by the Iowa Mayor’s Association and honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Iowa Legislative Black Caucus.

Hart has orchestrated what’s been described as a transformative time for the eighth largest city in Iowa of some 67,000 residents. He took office in January 2016, after serving two city council terms in Ward 4 and acting as Mayor Pro-Tem for six of his eight years on council—also the first African-American in that position. 

 “Collectively, we’ve been actively working on the innovation and frankly reclamation of our neighborhoods, infrastructure, services and amenities,” Hart explains. “The goal is to be a Community of Opportunity for all.”

His progressive approach to building a resilient and sustainable city led Honeywell to select Waterloo as the smallest of only five cities in its Smart City Accelerator through a competitive application process. Cleveland, Louisville, Kansas City and San Diego round out the list. This uniquely positions Waterloo to receive support toward federal grants and the implementation of other strategic projects. 

The list of city-backed projects and initiatives includes these highlights:

• $100 million Lost Island Theme Park
• $30 million University Avenue reconstruction
• $22 million Park Avenue & 11th Street bridges reconstruction
• $13.2 million street reconstructions & overlays
• $10 million Shaulis Road reconstruction
• Veterans Way Art & History Corridor
• Waterloo Convention Center remodel
• Sullivan Family Memorial Park
• Cedar River Lighting Experience on the 4th Street pedestrian bridge

Perhaps the crown jewel for Waterloo is what goes underground. A nearly 90% voter-backed local utility called Waterloo Fiber is constructing a $120 million fiber network to provide high-speed internet access, phone and cable across every inch of the community.

Hart is part of the United States Conference of Mayors, a non-partisan organization of cities with a population of 30,000 and over. He also is active with the National League of Cities, sits on the Accelerator for America Advisory Board, and is part of the National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity among other numerous regional state appointments and organizations.     

Taking on leadership roles has been a pattern over his long career serving others in the city where he grew up. As Associate Director of Multicultural Affairs for Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo, Hart drove initiatives to foster opportunities for all with an eye toward diverse involvement and representation. 

Waterloo also was chosen to train top-level staff through the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, which is an elite leadership program.

Among his numerous honors:

• 2025 Canadian National Railway Company Safety Ambassador
• 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Iowa Legislative Black Caucus
• 2025 Hall of Fame Award Iowa League of Cities
• 2024 Mayoral Service Award, Dream Keeper Initiative, U.S. Conference of Mayors
• 2024 Mayor of the Year Iowa Mayors Association
• 2024 Mayoral Service Award, The Burns Brothers KAIROS Atlas Strategy Group
• 2024 Community Service Award, North End Update 
• 2024 Mayor of the Year Iowa Executive League 
• 2023 Boomshakalaka Award North End Update
• 2022 Outstanding Rising Leader, New DEAL 
• 2022 Helping Veterans Award, Outstanding Community Service in the Cedar Valley (IA)
• 2021 USGLC Global Statesman Award Winner
• 2021 Global Statesman Award, U.S. Global Leadership Coalition 
• 2019 Outstanding Leadership in Black Hawk County Award Jesse Cosby Center
• 2017 Iowa Central College Distinguished Alumni
• 2017 Community Service Award on behalf of Arthur E. Mills Jr. Achievement Award 
• 2017 Krajiski Teferic Award of Appreciation
• 2017 Childhood Obesity Prevention Award U.S. Conference of Mayors
• 2017 Community Service Award National Action Network 
• 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award Make Me A World
• 2016 Iowa Citizen of the Year Award Iowa Juneteenth Observance Association 
• 2016 Bronze Mic Award KBBG FM-88.1
• 2015 Outstanding Youth City Official Award Iowa League of Cities
• 2014 Gift of the Heart Legacy Award Association of Fundraising Professional
• 2013 Dedication of Above and Beyond the Call of Duty Waterloo Homecoming Association
• 2013 KBOL and Social Action Inc. Distinguished Public Service Award
• 2011 American Council of Young Political Egypt Delegation
• 2009 KBBG Citizen of the Year Award
• 2009 Koob Award for Collaboration American Humanics
• 2007 NAACP Community Service Award
• 2005 Waterloo Commission on Human Rights Citizen of the Year Award
• 2004 Martin Luther King Jr. Center Community Service Award Winner 
• 2002 Innovation of the Year Award Hawkeye Community College
• 2002 Sammie Dell Commitment to Diversity Award
• 2002 Waterloo - Cedar Falls Courier 20 Under 40 
• 2000 Waterloo - Cedar Falls Courier Unsung Heroes 
• Dr. Martin Luther King Citizen & Leadership Award Governor Terry Branstad
• UMOJA Unity Award Soul Town

Among his numerous boards and councils:

• Accelerator for America
• Black Hawk County Emergency Management Agency
• Black Hawk County Conference Board
• Black Hawk County NAACP
• Black Hawk County Share Services Committee
• Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative
• Community Foundation’s Metro Funders
• From the Heart Waterloo Home Enhancement Project - Founder & Director
• Future Ready Cedar Valley
• Future Ready Iowa Board Member (by Governor Branstad)
• GROW Committee
• INRCOG Board Member
• INRCOG Executive Committee State of Iowa
• State of Iowa Commission on Aging – Commissioner
• Grow Cedar Valley  - ex officio
• Iowa Healthiest State Initiative - Board of Directors
• Iowa League of Cities Executive Committee-  Past President
• Iowa League of Cities Legislative Committee
• Iowa Workforce Development Minority Communities Board
• Leader Valley Council (GCVAC)
• Metro Coalition of Cities - Vice Chair
• National League of Cities
• National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity (NAPE) - Board Member
• National Housing Crisis Task Force- Mayor's Implementation Committee Member
• NewDEAL (Developing Exceptional American Leaders) – Member
• Regional Innovation and Entrepreneurship Team Member
• Regional Workforce Development Board
• Social Action Inc.. Board Member
• University of Northern Iowa Strategic Plan Implementation Team
• U.S. Conference of Mayors Advisory Board
• U.S. Global Leadership Coalition - Iowa Advisory Council
• Waterloo Industrial Development (WIDA) Board
• Waterloo Youth Jobs Initiative

Among his numerous Leadership courses:

• 2022-2023 Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative
• 2024 Mayor Institute US Conference of Mayors
• Cedar Valley Leadership Institute Greater Cedar Valley Chambers of Commerce

Among his numerous Keynote Speaking Engagements:

• Progressive Governance Symposium 2019, Berlin Germany
• UNI Staff 2025
• Sioux City 
• Accelerator for America 2018, 2019
• Afro-American Community Broadcasting INC 2016
• Martin Luther King Jr Center Hawkeye Community College 2008
• Human Right Commission 2009

Hart holds a Master of Arts in Postsecondary Education: Student Affairs from the University of Northern Iowa, and a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from Minnesota State University. 

Hart and his wife Cassandra, a public school administrator, have three children.