It’s not all about the crown and sash

As I’m sure you’ve noticed, we don’t have a mayor in Sun City Center. But the Sun City Center Area Chamber of Commerce does have an honorary Mayor. So, what’s the difference? 

Traditionally, mayors oversee a city’s main departments, including the police, fire, education, housing and transportation departments. In terms of legal duties, the  mayor enforces all laws of the city. He/she signs all commissions, licenses, and permits granted by legislative authority.

If you ask Google what an honorary Mayor does, here’s what you get: It is a position given as an honor without the normal privileges, duties or pay. Well, that’s not quite right. As honorary Mayor of the Sun City Center Area Chamber of Commerce, the pay part is correct – you get nothing but bragging rights, a sash and a crown. But there are duties and privileges. Now that the 2019 honorary Mayor’s race is about to get underway, we need to talk about those duties and privileges, and exactly how you could get into that annual race for the coveted crown, sash and no pay. 

In this contest, we don’t do a real deep dive to check out your background if you want to be our mayor. Of course, you do have to be a member in good standing at the chamber. Since you will become one of the main spokespersons for the chamber, a positive attitude is probably a good quality. You will be asked to attend as many chamber events as your schedule allows wearing that coveted crown and sash. But think about all the people you will meet and contacts you will make.

Here’s how it works. Let’s pretend you have already made your decision to run for honorary Mayor. Thank you! You need to pick a charity or two that you are passionate about. Then you host events that will raise money for that charity and the chamber in a 50/50 split. And each dollar you raise is one vote. You are basically buying votes … and that is perfectly legal in this mayoral contest. 

On Thursday, Sept. 27, anyone interested in throwing their hat into the ring to run for honorary Mayor needs to show up at our Business After Hours at Little Harbor. There you will express your intent to run by tossing your hat – any hat – into the ring (we will build one). From that date, you will have six weeks to raise your money, i.e., buy your votes. The end of the race is Nov. 9. 

Any questions? Talk to our committee: Current Mayor Cheryl DeLeon, Board Chair Connie Huber, and me. We can help you pick and plan events, or answer any of your mayoral questions. And remember, you will have fun during your term while not running one single department or signing one single document except maybe a birthday card for another chamber member.

Lynne Conlan is Executive Director of the Sun City Center Area Chamber of Commerce, 813-634-5111, lynne@sccchamber.com.