PUBLISHED SEPT. 1, 2016
Chamber hosts honorary mayor’s race kickoff,
sets date for tag sale fundraiser
By LOIS KINDLE
LOIS KINDLE PHOTO
Courtney Brown, left, outgoing honorary mayor of the Sun City Center Area Chamber of Commerce, poses with Connie Huber and Matthew Moody, the candidates vying now through Oct. 7 to win her title.
The Firehouse Cultural Center looked like Margaritaville Aug. 25 as the Sun City Center Area Chamber kicked off its annual honorary mayor’s race.
The place was filled with tropical décor, folks dressed like Parrotheads and Jimmy Buffet-style tunes played by Gary Coco. Even the food smacked of the islands.
Two candidates tossed their hats into the ring to announce their participation in the race: Connie Huber, of Mark Rossmiller State Farm Insurance, and Matthew Moody, of The Resort & Club at Little Harbor. Over the next six weeks, the pair will raise money for the chamber and their charities of choice. Half of each candidate’s total raised will go to its banquet room renovation project.
In a departure from normal fundraising events associated with the honorary mayor’s race, Huber and Moody will sell $20 raffle tickets for an assortment of large items yet to be announced, including deluxe, themed gift baskets.
“I’m working on a big-ticket item, but I don’t have it secured yet,” said chamber CEO Dana Dittmar. “Every ticket equals a vote, and the person who sells the most tickets will win.”
Huber is running on behalf of the Family Y at Big Bend and the Critter Adoption and Rescue Effort (C.A.R.E.) no-kill animal shelter in Ruskin.
Gary Coco provides island-style music to add to the Margaritaville atmosphere during the kick-off event for this year’s Sun City Center honorary mayor’s race.
Huber selected the new South Shore YMCA because of its efforts to reduce the number of child drownings in Hillsborough County by offering low-income residents affordable swimming lessons for their kids.
“Every child should be able to swim,” she said.
And C.A.R.E., she continued, is totally volunteer driven and supported by private donations. Its stated mission is to “reduce the number of homeless and abandoned animals through adoption, sterilization and education.”
“I want to help it make sure that our area’s dog and cat population is well-cared for,” Huber said.
Courtney Brown, center, outgoing honorary mayor of the Sun City Center Area Chamber of Commerce, appears on stage with Dana Dittmar, left, and Janice Bayruns at the Firehouse Cultural Center Aug. 25.
Moody is running to support the American Alzheimer’s Association.
“My father had a series of small strokes and is now suffering from memory loss,” he said. “He forgets my name sometimes and calls me by another. Dementia is so scary to me.”
Alzheimer’s in particular terrifies him, he added.
“Over 5 million people have been diagnosed with it, and there’s no prevention or cure,” Moody said. “I want to build more awareness and help the association fund more research and provide assistance for caregivers.”
Even the door prizes were themed to blend in with the tropical theme of the recent chamber after-hours event, where two candidates announced their candidacy for Sun City Center honorary mayor 2016.
Both candidates hope to win but are nonetheless supporting the efforts of their competitor.
“Even if I don’t come out on top, it’s still a win for the Alzheimer’s Association,” Moody said. “At the end of the day the whole community wins.”
Huber agreed.
“No matter who wins the race, all the charities (and the chamber) will benefit from the efforts we make,” she said.
The honorary mayor’s race ends Oct. 7. To learn how you can support either candidate, call the chamber at 813-634-5111.
Meanwhile, the chamber is hosting a huge tag sale in its banquet room from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sept. 9. In addition to donations made by area individuals and businesses, Cono and Cecelia Liguori, of Precious Coins & Gold, are bringing a truckload of items they purchased from area estate sales.
This will include antique furniture, lamps, silverware, jewelry, crystal, kitchenware, collectibles and more.
To donate an item for the sale or for additional information, call 813-634-5111.
The Firehouse Cultural Center took on a tropical theme for the kickoff of this year’s Sun City Center honorary mayor’s race.
