Honorary mayor race has started
PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE CITIZEN Osman Gruhonjic, Lehigh Regional Medical Center’s CFO, left, was named Honorary Mayor of Lehigh Acres last year. At right is Inke Baker, who made the announcement.
Each year now for several decades, Lehigh Acres has “elected” an honorary mayor. The word “elected” is used in quotes because in actuality, the community of Lehigh is not incorporated and there is no local civil government.
So some years ago, back when the Lehigh Corp. established the community, officials thought a fun thing to do would be to elect an honorary mayor, someone who could represent the community at ribbon cutting, breaking ground ceremonies and official get-togethers, and also raise some money, too, for a charity.
It was so successful that Lehigh residents have been coming up with an honorary mayor ever since.
Add to that, an honorary vice mayor and an honorary city clerk, if three were or more were to enter the race.
But this honorary mayor selection was done by candidates “buying votes.” And it is not illegal because as said before, the town is not incorporated and the mayor’s race is just for fun.
Inke Baker, president and CEO of the Greater Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce said today that the honorary mayor’s race was underway and would conclude with the naming of the winner on May 4, which is “Lehigh Acres Day” as recognized and named some years ago by the State of Florida.
Baker’s organization inherited the race and some of the profits it makes after the contest was relinquished by Lehigh Community Services, which came up with other ways to gain funding after Rae Nicely became its chief executive.
Now probably for the past half dozen years or more, it has been the chamber that has conducted the contest.
“We’re looking for someone, man or woman, who can show Lehigh in a positive picture, someone who enjoys living in Lehigh and someone who can attend such things as chamber functions such as ground breakings and ribbon cuttings plus other things,” Baker said.
There have been both men and women honorary mayors over the years and some have sought “re-election” twice and served twice.
To become an honorary mayor candidate, you need a sponsor and a favorite charity.
Raising money is the key to becoming the honorary mayor, Baker said. The person who raises the second highest amount becomes the vice mayor and fills in when the “mayor” is unable to conduct his or her duties. And the honorary clerk is the third person, if there is a third person in the race who raised the third highest amount.
Raising funds in the fun part of the honorary mayor’s race and in the past, “candidates” have done all types of things to get money from holding all kinds of events and often just asking or as some laugh and say, “begging for money.”
The begging for money is all in fun, but it often is the best way. In a nicer way of saying begging for money, the late Jim Phebus, sold raffle tickets to almost anyone he saw and he raised big bucks for his favorite charity and at that time, it was Lehigh Community Services, which was the sponsor of the race. He went on to serve two terms, doing the same thing seeking the second term, selling raffle tickets. He brought in several thousand dollars for the cause. And others have sold raffles, too. And others have raised large amounts of money.
In the past, the honorary mayor’s race was held in conjunction with the Lehigh Spring Festival but this year it is being held during and after the festival with the naming of the honorary mayor in early May.
The winner will get a sash naming him or her as winner and the year in which he or she served with the honorary title.
To join in the competition, time is of the essence, said Chamber President Baker.
You can go to the chamber site online at: lehighacreschamber.org/ and find a form to fill out. Follow the directions and snail mail or bring the entry form to the chamber office at the Lehigh Towne Center on the corner of Homestead and Alabama roads. There’s also a list of former honorary mayors, Baker said.
The sooner someone enters, the sooner they can begin raising money, Baker added. Nobody has entered because the contest has just been announced.
“Entrants can conduct all types of fund-raising activities such as car washes, food and snack sales, gathering donations and selling lots of raffle tickets. In the past golf tourneys have been held but it takes more time than a month to plan such an event, she said.
The current honorary mayor is Osman Gruhonjic, the CFO at Lehigh Regional Medical Center and he has told Baker that he wasn’t planning on running again this year.
Gruhonjic raised $13,778 last year, half of which went to the chamber and the remainder was split between the American Cancer Society and Lehigh Community Services. Ahmed El-Gendy, the runner-up said the other half of the $7,135 that he raised would be split with the Lung Institute and Harvest Gardens, a project at Mirror Lakes in in which food is raised by volunteers for the needy and headed up by Joe Pearson.
Last year, with the numbers announced, the chamber received just short of around $10,000.
“So let’s spread the word and get the excitement going. Let’s come up with a great honorary mayor,” Baker said.
Half of the money raised goes to the chamber and the other half goes to the person’s favorite charity or charities.
That’s the way it has been since the start of the honorary mayor’s race years ago.
Honorary mayor race has started
PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE CITIZEN Osman Gruhonjic, Lehigh Regional Medical Center’s CFO, left, was named Honorary Mayor of Lehigh Acres last year. At right is Inke Baker, who made the announcement.
Each year now for several decades, Lehigh Acres has “elected” an honorary mayor. The word “elected” is used in quotes because in actuality, the community of Lehigh is not incorporated and there is no local civil government.
So some years ago, back when the Lehigh Corp. established the community, officials thought a fun thing to do would be to elect an honorary mayor, someone who could represent the community at ribbon cutting, breaking ground ceremonies and official get-togethers, and also raise some money, too, for a charity.
It was so successful that Lehigh residents have been coming up with an honorary mayor ever since.
Add to that, an honorary vice mayor and an honorary city clerk, if three were or more were to enter the race.
But this honorary mayor selection was done by candidates “buying votes.” And it is not illegal because as said before, the town is not incorporated and the mayor’s race is just for fun.
Inke Baker, president and CEO of the Greater Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce said today that the honorary mayor’s race was underway and would conclude with the naming of the winner on May 4, which is “Lehigh Acres Day” as recognized and named some years ago by the State of Florida.
Baker’s organization inherited the race and some of the profits it makes after the contest was relinquished by Lehigh Community Services, which came up with other ways to gain funding after Rae Nicely became its chief executive.
Now probably for the past half dozen years or more, it has been the chamber that has conducted the contest.
“We’re looking for someone, man or woman, who can show Lehigh in a positive picture, someone who enjoys living in Lehigh and someone who can attend such things as chamber functions such as ground breakings and ribbon cuttings plus other things,” Baker said.
There have been both men and women honorary mayors over the years and some have sought “re-election” twice and served twice.
To become an honorary mayor candidate, you need a sponsor and a favorite charity.
Raising money is the key to becoming the honorary mayor, Baker said. The person who raises the second highest amount becomes the vice mayor and fills in when the “mayor” is unable to conduct his or her duties. And the honorary clerk is the third person, if there is a third person in the race who raised the third highest amount.
Raising funds in the fun part of the honorary mayor’s race and in the past, “candidates” have done all types of things to get money from holding all kinds of events and often just asking or as some laugh and say, “begging for money.”
The begging for money is all in fun, but it often is the best way. In a nicer way of saying begging for money, the late Jim Phebus, sold raffle tickets to almost anyone he saw and he raised big bucks for his favorite charity and at that time, it was Lehigh Community Services, which was the sponsor of the race. He went on to serve two terms, doing the same thing seeking the second term, selling raffle tickets. He brought in several thousand dollars for the cause. And others have sold raffles, too. And others have raised large amounts of money.
In the past, the honorary mayor’s race was held in conjunction with the Lehigh Spring Festival but this year it is being held during and after the festival with the naming of the honorary mayor in early May.
The winner will get a sash naming him or her as winner and the year in which he or she served with the honorary title.
To join in the competition, time is of the essence, said Chamber President Baker.
You can go to the chamber site online at: lehighacreschamber.org/ and find a form to fill out. Follow the directions and snail mail or bring the entry form to the chamber office at the Lehigh Towne Center on the corner of Homestead and Alabama roads. There’s also a list of former honorary mayors, Baker said.
The sooner someone enters, the sooner they can begin raising money, Baker added. Nobody has entered because the contest has just been announced.
“Entrants can conduct all types of fund-raising activities such as car washes, food and snack sales, gathering donations and selling lots of raffle tickets. In the past golf tourneys have been held but it takes more time than a month to plan such an event, she said.
The current honorary mayor is Osman Gruhonjic, the CFO at Lehigh Regional Medical Center and he has told Baker that he wasn’t planning on running again this year.
Gruhonjic raised $13,778 last year, half of which went to the chamber and the remainder was split between the American Cancer Society and Lehigh Community Services. Ahmed El-Gendy, the runner-up said the other half of the $7,135 that he raised would be split with the Lung Institute and Harvest Gardens, a project at Mirror Lakes in in which food is raised by volunteers for the needy and headed up by Joe Pearson.
Last year, with the numbers announced, the chamber received just short of around $10,000.
“So let’s spread the word and get the excitement going. Let’s come up with a great honorary mayor,” Baker said.
Half of the money raised goes to the chamber and the other half goes to the person’s favorite charity or charities.
That’s the way it has been since the start of the honorary mayor’s race years ago.
Honorary mayor race has started
PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE CITIZEN Osman Gruhonjic, Lehigh Regional Medical Center’s CFO, left, was named Honorary Mayor of Lehigh Acres last year. At right is Inke Baker, who made the announcement.
Each year now for several decades, Lehigh Acres has “elected” an honorary mayor. The word “elected” is used in quotes because in actuality, the community of Lehigh is not incorporated and there is no local civil government.
So some years ago, back when the Lehigh Corp. established the community, officials thought a fun thing to do would be to elect an honorary mayor, someone who could represent the community at ribbon cutting, breaking ground ceremonies and official get-togethers, and also raise some money, too, for a charity.
It was so successful that Lehigh residents have been coming up with an honorary mayor ever since.
Add to that, an honorary vice mayor and an honorary city clerk, if three were or more were to enter the race.
But this honorary mayor selection was done by candidates “buying votes.” And it is not illegal because as said before, the town is not incorporated and the mayor’s race is just for fun.
Inke Baker, president and CEO of the Greater Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce said today that the honorary mayor’s race was underway and would conclude with the naming of the winner on May 4, which is “Lehigh Acres Day” as recognized and named some years ago by the State of Florida.
Baker’s organization inherited the race and some of the profits it makes after the contest was relinquished by Lehigh Community Services, which came up with other ways to gain funding after Rae Nicely became its chief executive.
Now probably for the past half dozen years or more, it has been the chamber that has conducted the contest.
“We’re looking for someone, man or woman, who can show Lehigh in a positive picture, someone who enjoys living in Lehigh and someone who can attend such things as chamber functions such as ground breakings and ribbon cuttings plus other things,” Baker said.
There have been both men and women honorary mayors over the years and some have sought “re-election” twice and served twice.
To become an honorary mayor candidate, you need a sponsor and a favorite charity.
Raising money is the key to becoming the honorary mayor, Baker said. The person who raises the second highest amount becomes the vice mayor and fills in when the “mayor” is unable to conduct his or her duties. And the honorary clerk is the third person, if there is a third person in the race who raised the third highest amount.
Raising funds in the fun part of the honorary mayor’s race and in the past, “candidates” have done all types of things to get money from holding all kinds of events and often just asking or as some laugh and say, “begging for money.”
The begging for money is all in fun, but it often is the best way. In a nicer way of saying begging for money, the late Jim Phebus, sold raffle tickets to almost anyone he saw and he raised big bucks for his favorite charity and at that time, it was Lehigh Community Services, which was the sponsor of the race. He went on to serve two terms, doing the same thing seeking the second term, selling raffle tickets. He brought in several thousand dollars for the cause. And others have sold raffles, too. And others have raised large amounts of money.
In the past, the honorary mayor’s race was held in conjunction with the Lehigh Spring Festival but this year it is being held during and after the festival with the naming of the honorary mayor in early May.
The winner will get a sash naming him or her as winner and the year in which he or she served with the honorary title.
To join in the competition, time is of the essence, said Chamber President Baker.
You can go to the chamber site online at: lehighacreschamber.org/ and find a form to fill out. Follow the directions and snail mail or bring the entry form to the chamber office at the Lehigh Towne Center on the corner of Homestead and Alabama roads. There’s also a list of former honorary mayors, Baker said.
The sooner someone enters, the sooner they can begin raising money, Baker added. Nobody has entered because the contest has just been announced.
“Entrants can conduct all types of fund-raising activities such as car washes, food and snack sales, gathering donations and selling lots of raffle tickets. In the past golf tourneys have been held but it takes more time than a month to plan such an event, she said.
The current honorary mayor is Osman Gruhonjic, the CFO at Lehigh Regional Medical Center and he has told Baker that he wasn’t planning on running again this year.
Gruhonjic raised $13,778 last year, half of which went to the chamber and the remainder was split between the American Cancer Society and Lehigh Community Services. Ahmed El-Gendy, the runner-up said the other half of the $7,135 that he raised would be split with the Lung Institute and Harvest Gardens, a project at Mirror Lakes in in which food is raised by volunteers for the needy and headed up by Joe Pearson.
Last year, with the numbers announced, the chamber received just short of around $10,000.
“So let’s spread the word and get the excitement going. Let’s come up with a great honorary mayor,” Baker said.
Half of the money raised goes to the chamber and the other half goes to the person’s favorite charity or charities.
That’s the way it has been since the start of the honorary mayor’s race years ago.
Lehigh News
Suffolk, Tobler Construction to host construction-industry hiring event Feb. 11
Warming Bus slated for Lehigh on Friday morning as Lee and its partners conduct cold-weather outreach
