Two vying for title of honorary mayor

By Staff | Apr 22, 2015

Joan Cunningham

Two people have signed up to become Lehigh Acres’ next honorary mayor, a fundraiser that benefits favorite charities and the sponsoring Greater Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce.

The Honorary Mayor Contest has been held in Lehigh for many years, going back to the original days of a small community. Since Lehigh was never and is not now incorporated, the honorary mayor contest came about for the citizens to choose someone to represent Lehigh at various events.

In the past, it has been held during the Lehigh Spring Festival. But this year, the contest is being held later, starting a trend most likely, according to Inke Baker, president and CEO of the chamber.

The two candidates who have signed up include:

Joan Cunningham of Heartland Payment Systems at 701 14th St. E. in Lehigh.

Joe Pearson

Joe Pearson of Healthy Harvest Community Farms at 670 Milwaukee Blvd. in Lehigh.

It’s still not too late to sign up for the competition. Those interested should contact Baker at the chamber office in the Lehigh Towne Center on the corner of Alabama and Homestead roads.

The one who raises the most money becomes the next honorary mayor, Baker says.

“It’s a contest where the contestants raise money for their favorite charity with the other half going to the Greater Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce,” Baker said.

Both Cunningham and Pearson can plan different types of activities to raise money to win the contest. In the past, most winners of the honorary mayor contest have sold raffle tickets and have just plain out “begged” for contributions.

According to Baker, Cunningham can be reached at her work place at 239-938-4900 for more information on her campaign and plans to become the next honorary mayor. She has listed her favorite charity as Destiny Diapers, an organization that purchases diapers from donations and gives them out county-wide to mothers who are unable to afford the purchase of diapers, which can be very expensive.

Joe Pearson, no stranger in Lehigh, oversees Healthy Harvest Community Farms, a joint effort with volunteers to raise food near the Mirror Lakes Country Club, to sell and to give to organizations that help to feed the hungry in Lehigh.

The half of what he raises will go to The Chest Institute through Dr. Alaa El-Gendy of Lehigh and the other half will go toward Healthy Harvest Community Farms, both a not for profit organizations.

While there is plenty of time to still sign up, Baker said if you are interested, you should probably get a sponsor. In the past, places of employment have often sponsored someone in the business for honorary mayor. Golf tourneys have been held as larger events to raise money, too.

The honorary mayor contest has become one of the major fund-raising events for the Greater Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce.

Baker said the winner and second-place winner will be announced at the chamber’s annual Celebrity Waitress Dinner planned for August 1.

If there are just two contenders, the second place person becomes the honorary vice mayor and takes over the honorary mayor’s spot if she or he is unable to carry out their duties. If there are more contestants, a third runner-up would be the honorary clerk.

When the contest is over, it is a huge event when a king-sized check is made out to the chamber for half of the funds received by the contenders.

“It’s a fun thing to do,” Baker said. “We have ground breakings now and ribbon cuttings and other things that our honorary mayor can attend,” she said.

“We may not be incorporated, but we will always have an honorary mayor,” she laughed.

: Joe Pearson