Elam’s Race for ‘Mayor’ Heats up With Bunco, Golf and Beef’s

The race for honorary mayor of Brandon heats up with only two weekends to go before the candidate who raises the most money for charity and non-profit initiatives replaces the sitting mayor, Cami Gibertini.

This year’s race is between B. Lee Elam and GayLynn Love.

Elam, a long-time attorney, has chosen the GFWC Brandon Service League and the Rotary Club of Brandon as his two sponsoring charities. His designated charities are the Bill Carey Unit Boys & Girls Club of Brandon, which Elam helped found; the GFWC Brandon Service League Scholarship Fund; and the Emergency Care Help Organization (ECHO).

______________

B. Lee Elam’s Fundraising Events for Honorary Mayor Of Brandon Race

• June 22 / Bunco Babes for Brandon — Bunco for men and women at the Masonic Lodge at 203 North Moon Ave. in Brandon. Donation: $20. Begins at 7 p.m. For information, call: Sandy at 928-6734 or Zana at 813-689-1404. 

• June 23 / Family Fun Putt-Putt Golf Event — At the Ave Driving Range at 12910 Boyette Road in Riverview. Cost: $10 for adults and $8 for children under 8. Starts at 9 a.m. For information, call: Ryan or Ray Chadderto at 813-601-0597. Email: chaddertongroup@KW.com.

• June 24 / Lee’s Golf Tournament — A competitive round of golf with the candidate at the Bloomingdale Golfers Club, 4113 Great Golfers Place, Valrico. Tee off at 9 a.m. Cost: $60. Sponsorships: Hole ($75), Birdie ($600) and Eagle ($1,000). Win the hole-in-one contest and drive home a 2012 Buick Verano, courtesy of Roger Rivard. For information, call: Derrell Curry at 813-681-4676, or Elam at 813-685-5661 or 813-967-1921.

• June 29 / Mix & Mingle With Lee — At the home of Raphael and Lisa Gonzalez, at 6309 Wild Orchid Drive in Lithia, beginning at 7 p.m. Donations accepted. For information, call Lee at 813-685-5661 or 813-967-1921.

• July 1 / B. Lee’s Beef Burger Bash — At Beef O’Brady’s at 210 South Kings Ave. in Brandon, from noon to 5 p.m. Burgers, wings, hot dogs and beverages. Cost: $20 for adults and $10 for children. VIP tickets for $50 good for all-you-can-eat-and-drink plus one entry into “Lee’s Lotto.” Bounce house and activities for kids.

______________

5 Things To Know About The Race For Honorary Mayor Of Brandon

1. The race for honorary mayor of Brandon is run by the Community Roundtable, an umbrella organization for area charities and businesses in support of charitable endeavors. The group also runs the annual Greater Brandon Fourth of July Parade, at which time the new mayor is announced.
2. The candidate who raises the most money in the month of June and through the morning of the parade is "elected" to the honorary position.
3. Each candidate contributes 10 percent of the money raised to the Roundtable and 10 percent to the sponsoring organization attached to each race. The remaining money is distributed to the candidate's charities of choice.
4. The single-candidate fundraising record is held by James Young Jr., who in 2005 raised $75,001. (He was aided by Ryan Odiorne, the outgoing mayor, who served as the race's first, and only, "deputy mayor.")
5. The mayor's job is to serve as a dignitary throughout the year at such things as town events and business ribbon-cuttings.

______________

Who Were The Honorary Mayors Of Brandon?

A plaque recognizing the honorary mayors of Brandon hangs on the second floor of the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce building.

Starting with Nat Storms in 1959, the plaque recognizes "those citizens who cared enough to get involved." It further reads: "Through their collective efforts, hundreds of thousands of dollars have been raised to help charitable causes in the Greater Brandon community.”

HONORARY MAYORS OF BRANDON 1959 Nat Storms 1960 Eva Yonconish 1963 Richard "Dick" Stowers 1964 Buddy Owens 1966 William Cate 1967 Carroll Williamson 1968 James Braswell 1969 Loretta Clements 1971 Helen Pattesron 1972 Jerry Raulerson 1973 Don Frye 1974

Don Farr

1975 Doug Grose 1976 Charlie Sykes 1977 Larry Coker 1978 Alan M. Feldman 1979 Harry Vildibill 1980 Lynn Joyner 1981 Hilda E. Hampton 1982 Rex A. McAdam 1983 "Woody" Wood 1984 W.L. Knight 1985 Clifton C. Curry Jr. 1986 John Smithers 1987 Carol Todd 1988 Anne Nymark 1989 Jim Alderman 1990 Fred Uphoff 1991 Dick Cimino 1992

Chris Scogin

 

1993 Hilda Hampton 1994 Sherry Stewart 1995 John Paton 1996 Jean Barfield 1997 Jeff Reynolds 1998 Vince Ferraro 1999 Dave Braun 2000 Keith G. Johnson 2001 Arlene Waldron 2002 Grita Perry 2003 Becky Jordan 2004 Ryan Odiorne 2005 James Young 2006 Billie Smith 2007 George T. May IV 2008 Tammy Holmberg 2009 Connie Smaldone 2010 Lisa Rodriguez 2011 Cami Gibertini