Tammy Rodriguez

Two Lehigh residents have thrown their hats in the ring to run for Lehigh Honorary Mayor. Of the two people who have paid their $50 fee and left an application at the sponsoring Lehigh Community Services, is Oscar Gamble, the incumbent honorary mayor and Tammi Rodriguez, a local Realtor.

“A lot of people and friends and those here at the hospital urged me to run again,” Gamble said.

He is the director of the Lehigh Rehabilitation Services and the Wound Care Institute at Lehigh Regional Medical Center.

“I’ve enjoyed it. I’ve met a lot of good people who have opened up businesses in Lehigh and I have met a lot of politicians who showed up at ribbon cutting events and other functions.

The job of honorary mayor is ceremonial in nature because Lehigh Acres is an unincorporated community of around 60,000 in Lee County. There is no “official” person to represent the community so many years ago, the idea of an honorary mayor came up and the contest has continued each year.

Oscar Gamble

The second contestant to enter an application is Tammi Rodriguez. She is employed by Triple A. Realty in the Lehigh Towne Center.

Rodriguez has plenty planned in the way to raise money to win the coveted title. First off, last weekend there was a yard and bake sale behind her realty company at the Towne Center.

She plans a Karaoke Night on Jan. 22 at the office although that site may change. There is an auction on Jan. 28 at the office site and she is selling raffle tickets, six for $5 on a 50/50 deal. And inside the realty office is a small dog, a sort of mascot for the employees. People can donate to the dog in the Paws Donation box.

You can also call Tammi Rodriguez at 368-8520 to make personal donations to her campaign.

Charlotte Rae Nicely, the executive director of Lehigh Community Services, said the deadline for applying for honorary mayor is the end of this month. She said there is a $50 fee and an application that must be filled out and returned by then.

Then candidates are on their own to raise money. In past years, candidates have held golf tournaments, parties, raffles and have asked for personal donations from friends and associates in the community.

All the money that is collected by the candidates goes to Lehigh Community Services. In past years, some of the money collected was shared with other charities.

“It’s been a lot of fun over the years. Last year, we raised around $10,000. It is one of our main fundraisers for the year,” said Nicely.

Lehigh Community Services helps people with utility and rent payments and also hands out food to those who qualify. The offices today of Lehigh Community Services are at 201 Plaza Drive on the corner of Business Way.

The winner of the Honorary Mayor Contest is named on the last Friday night of the nine-day Spring Festival on the outside stage at Veterans Park. The Spring Festival begins on March 18. There is usually a king-sized check presented to Lehigh Community Services for picture taking.

And the amount of money raised by the contestants is secret with only the treasurer knowing the amount collected. Candidates turn in their collections each week to the treasurer of the board of Lehigh Community Services who deposits it in the bank.

“Thousands and thousands of dollars have been raised over the past three decades in which the race has been held.

The joke around town is that you can “buy your candidate off” by donating money to him or her. At the naming of the new 2011 honorary mayor, a sash is given away for the new honorary mayor to wear to all types of functions in the community, including ribbon cuttings and grand openings of new businesses.