Tyler first to enter honorary mayor contest
By MEL TOADVINE,mtoadvine@breezenewspapers.com Dewey Tyler is the first to file for Honorary Mayor of Lehigh Acres. He planked down his $50 entry fee check the other day at Lehigh Community Services, which sponsors the annual event. Tyler is the owner of the business complex at 205 Joel Blvd. and a Tae Kwon Do school and a fitness center. Also filing is Dr. Alaa El-Gendy, a sleep specialist with offices at 1420 Lee Blvd. In Lehigh. Both have filed before and both have raised money that benefits Lehigh Community Services. Rae Nicely, the executive director of Lehigh Community Services on Beth Stacy Blvd. says the honorary mayor contest is open to anyone and its purpose is to raise money for the agency which serves those in the community with food and utility payments during hard times. The contestants can also share some of what they collect in the fund-raiser for another charity. “This is one of our major fund-raisers,” Nicley said. “We sent some letters out to people in Lehigh just before the end of the year to let everyone know that the honorary mayor contest is open again for 2009. She said applications were accepted after Jan. 1. Those who enter the race for honorary mayor Lehigh must raise money through events they plan. Some in the past have held barbecues, golf tourneys, raffles, etc. In addition to honorary mayor, the second and third place winner are also named honorary vice mayor and honorary clerk. There is no “official” mayor in Lehigh because the community is not incorporated. “The honorary title not only helps raise money for our community, but it gives us someone who can attend ribbon cuttings, new business openings and other functions in the community,” Nicely said. “It’s a fun thing.” Deadline for entering the race is the last day of this month, but Nicely warned that if you want to win the title, it’s better to enter the race now because there will be more time to raise money. The honorary mayor contest has been held in Lehigh probably for the past three decades. It has been a popular event in the past with as many as five and six people vying for the title some years. “It’s funny trying to become honorary mayor because you’re out there actually buying votes,” laughed Tyler. “I’m like the bride’s maid, but never the bride … I haven’t won, but I have come close,” he laughed. Tyler said he believes he has run four times before and he has been able to raise a substantial amount of money for the agency. “All of what I raise goes to Lehigh Community Services. They do a wonderful job in Lehigh and especially now with times being so hard, the agency really needs money,” he said. “I enjoy giving back to this community.” Nicley says her client load has risen 64 percent over last last due to the ailing economy. “There are so many more people out of work, so many people who have lost their homes to foreclosure. That is why the money is so important,” Nicely said. She helped to form Team Rescue, which was featured in last week’s Lehigh Acres Citizen. It is a group of area churches and agencies that help provide food and some financial aid to people in trouble. “It breaks your heart when you see so many people here in Lehigh who are hurting,” Nicely said. Tyler says he plans a raffle and a golf tournament and will have more information on that in a week or so. He said the raffle will likely be $10 a ticket and be a 50/50 with half going to the winner of the raffle and the rest to Nicely’s agency. El-Gendy was out of town late last week for comments. But he also raise funds last year. Nicely said when applicants for honorary mayor raise money, they must take it to the treasurer of Lehigh Community Services who keeps account of it and also keeps the amount secret. “I don’t even know how much someone has raised, not until the day it is announced at the Lehigh Spring Festival,” Nicely said. Up until last year, the honorary mayor was named at the beginning of the festival. But now, the winner is not announced until the end of the festival. “This gives the contests more time to raise money by asking for donations at the festival or selling raffle tickets,” she said. Everyone in Lehigh – male and female – are invited to compete in the honorary mayor’s race. You can pick up an application form at Lehigh Community Services. You do need to put up a $50 entry fee to be eligible to be in the race. “I’m all excited about it,” said Tyler. “This time I may win because I’m going back to all the same people and ask them to buy votes so I can be the winner,” he laughed. El-Gendy was out of town and not available for comments. Those who run for the title are honored on the outside Festival stage at Veterans Park on Friday night, April 3. They will be given a sash to wear designating them as honorary mayor, vice mayor or clerk. “The media shows up and they get their pictures in the newspaper and on the last day of the Festival, which is April 4, they get to ride in the Lehigh Spring Festival Parade in an open convertible to hear the cheers of all the crowds who line Homestead Rd.,” Nicley said. She said Lehigh Community Services received around $10,000 in last year’s fund-raiser.