OAKHURST – The hottest “political” campaign in the mountains is about to get underway – the 2015 race for Honorary Mayor of Oakhurst.
The Eastern Madera County Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the Oakhurst Area Chamber of Commerce are pleased to announce this year’s campaign, which will run from Friday, Apr. 17 through Saturday, June 27.
The candidate application deadline has been extended to Thursday, Apr. 9, with a candidate organizational meeting scheduled for 5:15 p.m. that evening at the Yosemite Gateway Association of Realtors.
The Foundation is searching for a few good candidates to campaign on behalf of their favorite community organizations. The candidates increase public awareness of their chosen organization and raise much needed funds for the important programs they offer to the community, all the while having a great time and hosting fun (and generally delicious) events during the campaign.
To win the race, the Honorary Mayoral Candidates simply raise money for their favorite non-profit organization. Each dollar raised during the campaign counts as a vote; the candidate with the most votes wins the title and duties of the Honorary Mayor of Oakhurst.
Over the years the annual Oakhurst Honorary Mayoral Campaign has brought awareness to, and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for many local charities, including a record breaking $161,655 raised during the 2013 campaign.
Candidates are encouraged to pair up with similar organizations – i.e. Parks, Fire, SPCA, COP, Senior Center, etc. – and ask for help from a local service club to increase the campaign’s awareness and exposure. Get creative. Have fun!
Candidates will be competing for the title of 2015-2016 Oakhurst Honorary Mayor to replace the reigning 2014-2015 Oakhurst Honorary Mayor, Mat Sands. Mr. Sands, who campaigned on behalf of the Boys & Girls Club of Oakhurst, will be the host and emcee of the kick-off celebration at the Queen’s Inn on Friday, Apr. 17 at 5 p.m.
There will be food and live music featuring Dave Henderson, all for a nominal cover charge of $5. Those proceeds will be split between the candidates, who will have their voting booths at the event and hit the ground running with their fundraising that very evening.
This will be the second year that this longstanding community-wide event will be run by the Foundation. Previously the Chamber administrated the campaign and will continue to lend its support through this continuing transition.
Interested candidates may download application packets and find additional information about this year’s campaign online at: www.oakhurstchamber.com/honararymayor. Application materials are also available for pick up at the Oakhurst Area Chamber of Commerce office at 40637 Highway 41, in Oakhurst.
ABOUT THE EASTERN MADERA COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION: The EMCCC Foundation has been quietly supporting community based projects since 1994. This important organization has been involved with many projects that have been a great benefit to our community including: River Parkway, Sidewalk Program, Communitree Program, Civic Circle Project, Downtown Mural Project, Ahwahnee Regional Park, Tree Mitigation, Golden Chain Restoration Project, Highway 41/49 Project, and Community bench and trashcan project.
Join this list of illustrious citizens who are Past Honorary Mayor winners:
2014 Mat Sands
2013 Brian Gearhart
2012 John K. Burton
2011 Rima Runtzel
2010 John K. Burton
2009 Brian Gearhart
2008 Laura Bean
2007 J. Carol Graham
2006 Brian Gearhart
2005 Mary Lou Finley
2004 Monika Moulin
2003 Sonia Crane
2002 Earlene Keller
2001 Toni Lagunoff
2000 Dennis Fairbanks
1999 Matt Walker
1998 Bob LeBelle
1997 John Hays
1996 Gary Pence
