Run for Unofficial Mayor of Vashon

Have you dreamed about being an elected official? Want to ride the coat tails of the national election? Here is your chance to become the Official Unofficial Mayor of Vashon Island AND support your favorite Island non-profit organization at the same time!

 Anyone can enter and run for the office! The election is open to any Vashon Island resident regardless of age, race, gender identity, corporeality or species! Declare which Island charity you want to represent, get written permission from the non-profit organization to run and fundraise for them and get to campaigning. In order to throw your hat in the ring you must first announce you are running for office to the Chamber of Commerce and agree to the rules of the election, then announce it to the local newspapers and start your campaign. Create and place up to 12 ballot boxes, organize your fund raisers and get out there and get votes.

 Your supporters can vote (as many times as they like) by depositing a dollar (or more) in the ballot box.  Each dollar counts as one vote with the winner earning the title of Vashon Island’s Unofficial Mayor.  All money goes to benefit non-profits on the Island. Money is collected and sent to the Chamber of Commerce for counting and verifying.  The Mayor’s race has been known to raise up to $15,000 to benefit Island causes.

 IF YOU WIN! You will be invited to participate in other events throughout the year, such as the Ribbon Untying Ceremonies and Chamber Events but participation is totally optional. Once elected, the fun starts…all year.!  (Just a word of caution, the Unofficial Mayor has as much power as they have budget for this position which is nil)
Vashon Island Unofficial Mayor Contest... the Details:
Declaration Deadline is June 1
The Unofficial Mayor Contest is a joint fundraiser run by the Vashon Chamber of Commerce and by participating Vashon Island Charities. The Chamber of Commerce is the fiscal agent of the contest and are responsible for the office.
The election is open to any Vashon Island resident regardless of age, race, gender, identity, corporeality or species. Candidates may run under assumed names, nom-d’ plumes, character names, nicknames, random numbers, or their given names.

In order to run for Unofficial Mayor Candidates must do the following:
Select a501C3 Designated Charity to fundraise for.
Your charity must submit to the Chamber of Commerce a letter a letter from IRS declaring their 501c3 status Charity as well as an endorsement from the Charity and, giving the candidate permission to fundraise for them and agreeing to the contest terms.

Declare candidacy to the Chamber of Commerce, the newspapers, social media and anyone else who will listen.
Create and up to 12 “ballot boxes” (ballot boxes = collection boxes since money equals votes in this contest).
 Place ballot boxes in various locations throughout the Island. Inform Chamber of Commerce Staff of the location of your ballot boxes.

Fundraise to get out the vote: 1 Dollar = 1 Vote, encourage voters to vote multiple times!
Candidates may solicit donations however they want. Checks must be made payable to Vashon Chamber of Commerce with your campaign name and charity name in the memo section of the check. Checks made out to the Charitable Organization directly but copies must be submitted in order for those votes to count.

Credit Card donations can be made directly to the Charitable Organization.

Winning the Election:
The candidate with the most money raised is elected Unofficial Mayor.
Money is collected and counted by the Vashon Chamber of Commerce.
Winner is verified by Chamber Staff  and  Directors and announced at 10PM on the Saturday evening at the Beer Garden.

Winner gets to ride in the Sunday Car Parade.
Winner serves as Unofficial Mayor until the 2017 Mayor is elected.

Distributing Funds:
Money raised by each candidate for their respective charity still goes to the charity regardless of election results.
Money is collected by, counted and distributed to the participating charities by the Vashon Chamber of Commerce.
Charitable Organization submits copies of Checks & Credit Card donations made directly to organization in order for those “votes” to count.

 The fiscal agreement with participating Charities is that Charities receive 85% of gross raised with 15% going to The Chamber of Commerce.

Chamber of Commerce provides each Charity with an accounting of funds collected and issues a check to the Charity by the end of July.
Contact:
Jim Marsh, Executive Director
jim@vashonchamber.com,
(206) 463-6217