Mayoral campaign seeks candidates | Sierra Star

The 2015 Oakhurst Honorary Mayoral Campaign is about to begin. The Eastern Madera County Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the Oakhurst Area Chamber of Commerce have announced the upcoming 2015 Honorary Mayoral campaign. This year’s campaign will run from April 17 through June 27.

The candidate application deadline has been extended to today, April 9, with a candidate organizational meeting 5:15 p.m. tonight, at the Yosemite Gateway Association of Realtors.

The foundation is searching for a few good candidates to campaign on behalf of their favorite community organizations. The candidates increase public awareness of their chosen organization and raise much needed funds for these great organizations and the programs they offer to the community. Candidates are encouraged to pair-up with similar organizations, such as parks, fire, SPCA, COP, Senior Center, and ask for help from an area service club to increase the campaign’s awareness and exposure. Get creative. Have fun.

Candidates will be competing for the title of 2015-16 Oakhurst Honorary Mayor to replace the current reigning 2014-15 mayor, Mat Sands, who campaigned on behalf of the Boys & Girls Club of Oakhurst last year. He will be the host and emcee of the kick-off celebration for this year’s mayoral campaign, 5 p.m., Friday, April 17, at the Queen’s Inn. The kick-off event will offer food and live music featuring Dave Henderson, all for a nominal cover charge of $5 that will be split between the candidates. The candidates will have their voting booths at the event and will begin raising funds that evening.

To win the race, the honorary mayoral candidates raise money for their favorite non-profit organization. Each dollar raised during the campaign counts as a vote; the candidate with the most votes wins the title and duties of the Honorary Mayor of Oakhurst.

Over the years the annual Oakhurst Honorary Mayoral Campaign has brought awareness to and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for many area charities. A record breaking $161,655 was raised during the 2013 campaign.

This will be the second year that this longstanding community-wide event will be run by the foundation. Previously the chamber administrated the event and will continue to lend its support.

Potential candidates interested in running on behalf of their favorite community organization can download application packets, or find additional information online at: oakhurstchamber.com/honararymayor. Application materials are also available for pick up at the Oakhurst Area Chamber of Commerce office at 40637 Highway 41, Oakhurst.

- Oakhurst Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation