By Nicole Heubusch
It’s the time of year again for the start of the Honorary Mayor Campaign. It begins on Sunday, June 1, and will run through the morning of Friday, July 4. To participate, candidates pick a local charity, and during the race they hold fundraisers. People in the community support the candidate’s charities by donating money at the fundraisers. The race is put on by The Community Roundtable, as is the 4th of July Parade. The race will end and the money raised will be counted at 8 a.m. and the Honorary Mayor will be declared before the start of the annual 4th of July Parade. However, there is not just one winner of this contest.
“The winners are all of the charities who are able to benefit from this contest,” said Vice President of The Community Roundtable, Janine Nickerson.
This year’s Honorary Mayor will be replacing the outgoing mayor of 2013, Jack Bartlett. He raised an impressive $47,556 for his charities: Brandon Sports and Aquatic Center and A Kid’s Place.
Read below to learn more about the contestants in running:
Judy Moore, owner Jute’s Box Bakery
Judy has lived in the Brandon area since 1981, and has been married since 1999 to her husband Bill. Judy is a mother to her son, Jason, and a grandmother to four-year-old Emma Grace. Her husband started a small plant broker, Bill Moore and Company, INC., in 1983 and Judy is the President and CFO. She also owns a home based bakery, Jute’s Box, where she makes specialized cakes among other goodies. She is a part of many organizations in the Brandon area, including Charity Chicks and the Brandon Chamber.
Judy’s charity is Center Place Fine Arts and Civic Association located at 619 Vonderburg Dr. She has been supporting this charity since 2011 while being on the committee for Barbara Schwabe’s mayoral race, and hasn’t looked back since.
“This is my happy place,” said Judy. “I am an usher for the children’s shows, and love to see the excitement in them; with their satisfied smiles.”
Judy has been on the Board of Directors at the Center Place since 2012, and is the current President of the Board. She also served on the committee for the mayoral race for Dawn Galia. Judy will be hosting different events at the Center Place during the month of June, all to fundraise. For a complete list on the fundraising events that will be held by Judy, visit www.centerplacebrandon.org/special-events.aspx.
Liz Brewer, FBC Mortgage
Liz moved to the Brandon area in 1987 with her husband of 28 years, Jeff, and they have three children Jeff, Tyler and Brittany. Liz works at FBC Mortgage, LLC in Valrico as a Loan Officer. She is involved in many organizations in the Brandon community. She is a board member of the Women’s Resource Center and Randall PTSA, Secretary of The Community Roundtable and Secretary and Past President of the Newsome PTSA.
Fittingly, the charities she will be raising money for are the Women’s Resource Center and the Brandon Foundation, as well as the Hillsborough County Firefighter’s Foundation. The main purpose of her choice to run for Honorary Mayor of Brandon is to “raise awareness about all of the charities and how every citizen can support them through volunteering their time, treasure and talents. This allows our community to take care of our own and build a strong community.”
Liz feels very strongly for her community.
“There are still so many people who drive to Tampa to volunteer their time and give their dollars to and I want them to see how many wonderful charities are right here in our community needing our support,” said Liz. “It’s vital that the Brandon community support our local charities that are taking care of the needs of those here in our community. A thriving community is one that takes care of its own.”
For more information on Liz Brewer’s run for Honorary Mayor and her upcoming events, visit www.facebook.com/BrewerforMayor?ref=profile, www.BrewerforBrandonMayor.com, call Liz Brewer at 299-6745 or e-mail Liz@lizbrewer.net.
For more information on The Community Roundtable, visit: www.thecommunityroundtable.org.
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