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Celebration Planned For Local 'Idol' Contestant - If She's In The Top 3

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 7, 2008

SARASOTA - For some local "American Idol" watchers, there is no question Booker High School graduate Syesha Mercado will make the final three tonight.

"She will be coming home on Friday for a celebration," declared Mayor Lou Ann Palmer late Tuesday night after watching Syesha sing "Proud Mary" and "A Change Is Gonna Come."

"There is no doubt," the ecstatic mayor said.

Elected officials and city leaders in the city of 55,000 are getting ready for a homecoming extravaganza Friday – contingent on how "American Idol" fans vote. The top three finalists will be revealed on a program airing tonight at 9 on Fox, but some Sarasota officials feel certain of the outcome. It's as if they hope their optimism will somehow propel the outcome.

"I am confident of it," said Virginia Haley, President of the Sarasota Convention and Visitors Bureau.

And after Tuesday night's performance, when judge Paula Abdul told Syesha she looked like a star, local supporters have reason to be confident.

But planning a to-be-determined event has proven to be a bit tricky. "It's hard to do things like rent Port-o-lets and tell the vendors we don't know there will be an event until 10 p.m. Wednesday night," said Haley, who is organizing a 3 p.m. performance at the Ca d'Zan Mansion at Ringling Museum.

The plan is for Syesha to land near the Ca d'Zan in a helicopter.

"That is going to be a gorgeous shot on national television," Haley said.

Tuesday morning Palmer sent an e-mail to city employees encouraging them to watch the show and vote. "Whether she makes the top three will be up to you and (I hope) thousands of other voters," Palmer wrote.

When it comes to voting, the mayor has been doing her part. Palmer said she had been "wearing out her thumb" by using redial on her home phone last week to vote about 200 times.

Jan Thornburg, public information officer with the city of Sarasota, has been working with FOX organizers to plan a day of events for Friday – if Syesha makes the final cut.

Thornburg said the events include a mini parade along the river in Bradenton.

Syesha is a Manatee County native and her family wanted to make sure part of the festivities were held in Bradenton. Next, the singer is off to Booker High to sing for students. Then an event will be held at Ringling Museum. At the museum the mayor will proclaim the day as "Syesha Mercado Day" and give her the key to the city.

"It is going to be a very tight schedule for Syesha," Thornburg said.

"This is all driven by Fox and 'American Idol.' They have been planning this behind the scenes for a week. There will be fans and people with signs along the way."

Booker High is preparing its cheer team and color guard.

Staff members have been busily preparing for the celebration.

"Ohhhh this is bigger than a pep rally," Principal Constance White-Davis said.

Students will gather outside Booker High to cheer her arrival.

Mercado then will perform for students. The songs will be part of a later, televised Fox special.

School Board members were gearing up for Mercado's performance at their meeting Tuesday night, with several of them making plugs during their comments for the public to call and vote for the Booker graduate.

Board member Shirley Brown also advised people to vote as many times as they can from as many phones as they can.

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