Six community members made their case for the honorary title of Mayor 4 A Day Tuesday evening during a light-hearted debate at VFW Post 10178, part of an annual fundraising campaign hosted this year by the Englewood Chamber of Commerce.
Each candidate represented a local nonprofit and used the event to raise funds and awareness for their cause. The winner will be named honorary mayor during the Englewood Pioneer Days Parade later this month.
The candidates and their affiliated charities included:
- Pet Samuels, Englewood Food Pantry
- Addison Morey, Junior Leadership Englewood
- Lucy White, Englewood YMCA (supporting a new playground)
- Ed Kinsey, VFW 10178 Veterans Relief Fund
- Sonnie Hall, Englewood Area Cancer Foundation
- Darla Mapes, Englewood Recovery Oasis
One of the evening’s more lighthearted moments came when candidates were asked, “What would be the most important thing to bring to Englewood?”
White, promoting youth programs, answered, “I’d obviously bring all the youth to the new playground!”
Kinsey joked, “A water park. Yes, a water park with big slides and a wave pool!”
Mapes offered a more whimsical take: “A couple of mountains—or at least a few rolling hills.”
The debate was moderated by a panel of local leaders: Irene Slattery of Michael Saunders & Company and the Lemon Bay Conservancy, Kathy Macklin of Englewood Meals on Wheels, Peter Jennings of Harbor One Mortgage, and Bill Flemming of WENG Radio.
Michael Dalke, also of Englewood Meals on Wheels, served as emcee.
In addition to the Q&A, each candidate raffled a themed gift basket, and a 50/50 raffle raised additional funds. Each contestant received $29 from the raffle proceeds to go to their chosen nonprofit.
During the event, the Chamber also announced the Grand Marshal of this year’s Pioneer Days Parade: Nancy Wille, a longtime Englewood resident and active member of the Lemon Bay Historical Society. Wille has lived in Englewood since the age of 10 and is recognized for her contributions to preserving the area’s heritage.
The next Mayor for a Day debate is scheduled for Aug. 19 at The Waverly. The final winner will be determined by the amount of funds raised in support of their respective organization.
