North Fort Myers honorary mayor ‘election’ under way
It looks like Doug Dailey won’t be North Fort Myers’ honorary mayor for life after all.
After nearly a decade, the North Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce has brought back its Honorary Mayor of North Fort Myers fundraiser. And there are already two people who have put their hats in the ring.
Wendy Murray, executive director at the chamber, said many years ago, they decided it would be fun to have an honorary mayor and do a fundraiser. Tom Hollihan was the first honorary mayor.
Other winners have included Tom Cronin, John Gardner and Al Giacalone. Dailey was the last honorary mayor in 2014 before the event was stopped.
“We had an absence of chamber leadership and COVID, but this year we’re bringing it back,” Murray said. “I am recruiting new candidates now.”
Since North Fort Myers is unincorporated, it is under the jurisdiction of Lee County, so, obviously, there cannot be a formal mayor.
The rules are simple. One dollar raised equals one vote. The candidate who raises the most money is the winner.
This is a strictly honorary position. The mayor represents the chamber and attends ribbon-cuttings, grand openings and other special events in the area.
There are already two candidates in Reid McDaniel of McDaniel Insurance Solutions and Melissa Martin, owner of Eagle Roofing.
Murray stresses it is not too late to sign up to run.
There is no limit to the way candidates can raise money. People have held car washes, bake sales, garage sales, even sent letters to friends asking them to donate.
The money raised goes toward the chamber foundation, which gives out scholarships as well as to running the chamber and running the programs for member businesses and the welcome center at the Shell Factory.
McDaniel has organized a golf tournament scheduled for this Saturday, Dec. 10, at the Del Tura Country Club with an 8 a.m. shotgun start.
The cost is $95 per person for teams of four. The event will feature a lunch buffet and alcoholic beverages. There will also be a hole-in-one contest.
Slots are filling up quickly, so sign up now. For more information call McDaniel at 239-766-0357.
The deadline for candidates to run is Dec. 15. On Jan. 18, the winner will be announced at a luncheon, possibly at Gulf Coast Village in Cape Coral.
“We hope we can get more candidates and that we can grow from there,” Murray said.
For more information, call Murray at 239-707-6722.
To reach CHUCK BALLARO, please email news@breezenewspapers.com