Community Corner
Schwabe Throws Hat into Mayor's Race
Barbara Schwabe is one of two candidates who has declared for the Brandon honorary mayor's race.
The race for honorary mayor of Brandon doesn't begin until June 1 but two candidates have already declared their intention to run for the post.
The latest candidate to sign on is longtime resident Barbara Schwabe, current president of Center Place fine and cultural arts center and vice president of Fred Schwabe & Associates.
She joins Cami Gibertini in running for the honorary seat that has been a Brandon tradition since 1959 when Nat Storms served as Brandon's first honorary mayor.
Find out what's happening in Bloomingdale-Riverviewwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The honorary mayor appears at ribbon-cuttings and civic functions throughout the year. More importantly, those running for honorary mayor of Brandon host events throughout the month of June to raise funds for their designated charities.
Sponsored by Center Place, Schwabe will raise funds for Center Place, a nonprofit arts center at 619 Vonderburg Drive.
Find out what's happening in Bloomingdale-Riverviewwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Gibertini, running on behalf of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Brandon, is also a longtime resident and senior vice president of USAmeribank on Kings Avenue.
Her charities are the Emergency Care Help Organization and the Brandon area YMCAs.
The candidate who raises the most money for their charities between June 1 and July 4 is declared the new mayor on the morning of the Brandon Fourth of July Parade.
Ten percent of the funds raised during the mayoral campaigns go to the Community Roundtable to help finance the annual Fourth of July parade in Brandon. Another 10 percent goes to the candidates' sponsoring organization and the remainder of the funds are divvied up among the charities.
The roundtable is still taking applications for those interested in running for honorary mayor. For an application, contact the Community Roundtable at 813-661-4350 or e-mail Roundtable2008@aol.com.
The roundtable also is accepting applications for those interested in participating in the Fourth of July parade.
The cost to participate is $75. Applications are available through the Community Roundtable's Website at www.brandonroundtable.com/.
Participants can apply online and make their payment through Paypal.
A mandatory meeting for all parade participants will be held June 28 at 6:30 p.m. at Center Place, 619 Vonderburg Drive, Brandon.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
