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Honorary mayor raises $37,181 to win race

Tiffany Tuell

(Updated: Thursday, July 15, 2010, 12:00 AM)

John K. Burton and his buddy Scout -- at home due to food codes at the finale's facility -- put on their dancing shoes and paws when the pair was named, as one, the new honorary mayor of Oakhurst at last week's Honorary Mayor Finale Fiesta.

The duo raised $37,181.76 for the Eastern Madera County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Every dollar raised is a vote in the honorary mayor's race.

"It went better than I thought," Burton said. "I didn't think I'd raised that much. We had at least a dozen or more fundraisers but the tri-tip drive-through lunch raised the most money. I couldn't have done it without the help and support of the SPCA members."

It was the fourth year in a row and fifth overall that the title has gone to a candidate on behalf of the SPCA. A record-breaking amount of $40,124 was raised last year by honorary mayor Brian Gearhart and Burton came in a close second for most money raised.

Burton said he was very happy with the results but wasn't the only one who had been working hard. Runner-up Melanie Barker raised about $15,000 to help fund Manna House's new building, which will be located off Junction Drive below Oakhurst's Yosemite New Life Church of the Nazarene.

"I wish both of us could have won because we both worked hard," Burton said. "Melanie did a great job at raising funds."

Burton said the most important aspect of the honorary mayor race is not only the money raised but the community.

"It gets the community involved and it just reminds them that we're a giving community," he said.

Plans are still under way for the Eastern Madera County SPCA facility that will be located on Highway 49 across from Wasuma Elementary School.

Sharon Fitzgerald, president of the Eastern Madera County SPCA, is optimistic about the future.

"We would love to break ground this year," Fitzgerald said. "The mayor's race money goes to the building fund and we have hired an architect -- Alan Hendry of Coarsegold -- and are also contracting with Shelter Planners of America."

The planners have designed more than 700 shelters in the United States, have operated some shelters, and will help with a concept of what the Mountain Area needs, Fitzgerald said, including size of the shelter, staffing and operating budgets.

"Having the honorary mayor's race really brings attention to the project," Fitzgerald said. "John was out there selling raffle tickets and baked goods. There wasn't a week that went by that there wasn't some event."

Fundraising efforts will continue, Fitzgerald said.

"First and foremost, we need to have a place for homeless animals so we need to get this first phase built and it will be designed so we can enlarge the facility later" Fitzgerald said.

Upcoming events include a casino night Aug. 14, an animal fair Oct. 3 and possibly a motorcycle poker run.

Details: Sharon Fitzgerald, (559) 642-6611.