CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - Carmichael’s annual race for honorary mayor has two candidates with hats in the ring for 2022 office. The mayoralty is a Carmichael Chamber of Commerce appointment and carries no civic power. Victors undertake a rotation of ribbon-cutting, raffle drawing and occasional trash clean-ups -- and many opportunities to promote their business.

With no term limitations, the campaign raises funds for Chamber community projects. Ruthless August-to November campaigns tests each candidate’s fundraising flair and counts each dollar as a vote. Put simply, the candidate who drums up the most cash wins the title.

These are the 2021 candidates:

Entrepreneurial dynamo Diana Shockley is a former Sutter Health manager who began her business baking pies from home. The artisan launched her I Love Pie shop in Carmichael in 2019. Aged 35, she recently produced a second daughter. With scant time off, she got back to her Marconi Avenue store, got cooking and developed a recipe for mayoral campaigning. “Everybody’s doing fine,” she reports. “I’m super busy but I’ve learned to juggle. I’m looking forward to an exciting campaign.” Half of her fundraising will support the Carmichael Park Foundation.

Rival Sal Ramirez (33) is a Peace Corps veteran who taught English to Kazakhstan children. He now directs communications for Sanctuary Hospice in Fair Oaks. “The 95608 area has so many wonderful senior residents,” he says. “My campaign will share proceeds with the Adopt an Elder Foundation – a non-profit that helps low-income elders.”

Ramirez will host a wine-pull event at River City Brewery on October 28. Supporters will pay $20 to choose a bag-wrapped bottle of choice wine. The candidate will also raffle a jewelry item and a gift card donated by Aquamarine Jewelers. Anyone may attend the 3:30 to 5 pm happy hour gathering.

Shockley kicks off fundraising with pie-and-wine-pairing event at River City Brewery (November 3, 6 to 8 pm). Tickets are $35; guests will sample artisan pies and discuss what wines go best with each.

Realtor Izzy DeLancey has worn the mayoral sash for the past two years and will bow out in January. Her final term was challenging. “With the pandemic, so much was shut down and so many events were cancelled,” she reflects. “I made the best of it and boosted the San Juan food bank with food drives. I made the year all about supporting community. Let’s hope the 2022 mayor has more opportunity to engage with businesses.”

Fundraising will be tallied, and the 2022 victor announced in late November. Learn more about the mayoral race at www.carmichaelchamber.com