Past, present and wannabe mayors kick off the 2025 Honorary Mayoral race in Carmichael. Kerri Mandes, left, won her sash in 2023. The current mayor is Miranda Viani, second from right. The 2020/21 winner was Izzy DeLancey, right. Next year's candidates are, from second left, Mikhaila Freas, Celia Surridge, Dr. Kawanaa Carter, Tony Myers and Shelby Glass.

CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - Carmichael’s annual race for honorary mayor has five wannabes vying for 2025 office.

The rivals, four women and a lone male, include a neurosurgeon, a private school staffer and three business owners. With all eyes on the winner’s sash, candidates recently launched campaigns.

The mayoralty is a Carmichael Chamber of Commerce tradition that carries much prestige but no civic power. Fought out annually, its victor undertakes a year of ribbon-cuttings, tree-plantings and community interaction. Promoting business interests, along with occasional trash clean-ups, are additional perks.

With no term limitations, the appointment fundraises for the Chamber of Commerce and for charitable causes. August to November campaigns test candidates’ fundraising flair and each donated dollar is counted as a vote. Put bluntly: with the most cash, the winner gets the chicken dinner and the sash. Nonprofit organizations this year receive 75 percent of donations.

Here are the 2025 candidates:

Celia Surridge founded Celia Rose Creative consulting company to help merchants and organizations with online marketing. Her campaign will benefit Joshua’s House Hospice project in developing a facility where homeless patients can receive end-of-life care.

Chamber of Commerce director Tony Myers owns Hammerhead Games, Sacramento. His store provides for the youth market (and many young-at-heart adults) with table-top games.  Myers nominates the San Juan Education Foundation to share his campaign war chest.

Shelby Glass is an advancement director for Victory Christian School, Carmichael. The former Victory student also found a husband in its classrooms and the Carmichael couple recently enrolled their daughter for kindergarten there. Glass pledges funds in support of the school.

Continuing a Michigan and California career in neurological research, Dr. Kawanaa Carter now practices privately in Folsom. A Carmichael resident, the surgeon fundraises for Infinite Giving, her own nonprofit organization that boosts multiple causes among disadvantaged people.

Mikhaila Freas runs the Freas Marketing Management company, specializing in social media promotion. Freas nominates Carmichael HART, a charity aiding Carmichael’s homeless community, as campaign beneficiary.

All candidates plan fundraising events between August and November; anyone can support the race for victory. Results will be announced at a November event.

Learn more about Carmichael's mayoral race at www.carmichaelchamber.com.