Riverview Chamber Welcomes New Honorary Mayor

While Elijah Heath claimed the title of honorary mayor of Riverview at the Oct. 23 Greater Riverview Chamber of Commerce luncheon, the true winners of the race are the community's nonprofits.

This year's honorary mayor's race netted $12,000 for charity.

"That is extraordinary," commented chamber executive director, Tanya Doran.

Throughout August and September, Heath of the Rotary Club of FishHawk-Riverview, Molly Blanton of the Gulf Ridge Council of the Boy Scouts of America and Mary Boyd of C1 Bank in Riverview hosted fundraisers as part of their bids to become the community's next honorary mayor.

During the annual event, the candidate who raises the most money for his or her designated charity is declared the winner.

Heath, a financial adviser with Edward Jones in Lithia, raised funds for the FishHawk-Riverview Rotary Foundation.

Blanton, district executive of the Gulf Ridge Council, held fundraisers for the Scouts.

And Boyd, the branch manager of C1 Bank in Riverview, designated her funds for YMCA Camp Cristina in Riverview and A Kid's Place in Brandon.

Events ranged from a pub crawl and wine tasting to a murder-mystery dinner theater and a yappy hour.

At Tuesday's meeting, representatives of the charities were on hand to accept checks from the mayor's race.

Heath will begin his yearlong term as honorary mayor at the annual chamber banquet in January.