Oakhurst's new 'mayor' works hard for the money

Five candidates raise nearly $70,000

Brian Wilkinson

(Updated: Thursday, July 16, 2009, 4:02 PM)

Fundraising records were broken as Oakhurst's new honorary mayor was named Saturday night at the Oakhurst Community Park.

In a year that many thought fundraising efforts would be hurt by the slumping economy, 23-year-old Brian Gearhart set a record by raising $40,124 for his chosen charity, the Eastern Madera County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Liz Ware was runner-up.

The total raised by the six candidates running for the title was $69,480, also a record. In the honorary mayor's race, every dollar raised counts as a vote.

The announcement was the highlight of the 50 Cent Night event sponsored by the Oakhurst Area Chamber of Commerce, in recognition of the organization's 50th anniversary.

Gearhart is the first candidate to win the title twice. He won in 2006 when he raised $12,600 for the Harry Baker Boys & Girls Club.

Gearhart and his supporters held more than 20 fundraising events over the past three months. He said the campaign was long, tiring and a lot of work, but he was proud of the results.

"The community is so generous," Gearhart said after the announcement that he had won.

He thanked everyone for their support during the three month campaign.

This is the third year in a row and fourth time overall the title has gone to a candidate on behalf of the SPCA. Those candidates were Earlene Keller, who raised $11,000 in 2001; Carol Graham, who raised $36,000 in 2007; Laura Bean, who raised $24,000 in 2008; and now Gearhart.

The five other candidates who ran this year included Chris Baker, who raised money for the Sierra Lions Club; Viviann Carlson, who raised money for the Bass Lake Education Foundation; Allan King, who raised money for the Wild Wonderful Women's King Vintage Museum; Gerald Ongman, who raised money for the Sierra Senior Center and Liz Ware, who raised money for the Boys & Girls Club of Oakhurst.

"This is huge for a small community in this economy," said Sharon Fitzgerald, president of the Eastern Madera County SPCA.

Fitzgerald has been the volunteer president of the organization since its nonprofit incorporation in 1990.

Fitzgerald said that the goal of the organization has always been to build a shelter for up to 70 animals that would also include a spay and neuter clinic and dog park.

A long-term, low-cost lease agreement is close to being signed with Madera County for five acres of land for the shelter on Highway 49 across from the Ahwahnee Fire Department.

Supervisor Tom Wheeler has been very supportive and has been instrumental in helping us obtain the county property," said Fitzgerald.

"We are currently looking at architectural firms and shelter planners and hope to break ground this year."

The event also served as the 50th anniversary of the Oakhurst Area Chamber of Commerce.

Chamber Executive Director Kathy McCorry publicly thanked all the past presidents, board members, executive directors, chamber foundation members and the entire membership for their hard work and dedication over the past 50 years -- the results of which have made the Chamber the strong organization that it is today.