Cambria revives quirky $1-a-vote honorary mayor race to fund local charities
The unincorporated coastal town of Cambria has brought back its novelty Honorary Mayor’s Race, where each donated dollar counts as a vote and proceeds support community nonprofits.
In Cambria, California, the quirky Honorary Mayor’s Race returned after almost 20 years, allowing anyone to purchase votes at a cost of one dollar per vote. Because Cambria is an unincorporated area, the contest holds no actual governmental authority and exists solely as a fundraiser and community spectacle. Candidates this year include Dianne "Lady Tie Di" Brooke of the Cambria Grammar School PTA, Barrett Stuart of the Cambria Tennis Club, Jim Bahringer representing the American Legion, and Del Clegg from the Cambria Rotary Club.
The campaign features playful promises, pie-eating contests, and dancing, while each dollar donated is counted as a vote with no limit on purchases. Funds are divided between the Cambria Chamber of Commerce and charities selected by the candidates, supporting school trips, tennis courts, veterans’ programs and Rotary projects. The honorary winner will be crowned at a September event and act as the town’s “official but unofficial” mayor for the following year.
Why it matters
The event blends humor with fundraising, highlighting creative ways small communities support local charities.
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