WESLEY CHAPEL After months of fundraising efforts for the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce, Elayne Bassinger was named the area's honorary mayor Thursday night at a mixer hosted by Hyundai of Wesley Chapel and Mazda of Wesley Chapel. Other candidates for honorary mayor included : Amanda Benson of Secure Capital Mortgage; Alison Fitzgerald of Phoenix Massage & Personal Training; Robert Kellog of Thread Art; Jeff Miller of Charles Rutenberg Realty; Lisa Seckly of MarketWesleyChapel.com; and Debra Kaplan of Under the Palms Ministry; According to Bassinger's campaign Web site, she is a native of Florida, and was born and raised in Dade City. She is married to Hal; has one daughter, Alesha, who is married to Capt. Jeff Holmes of the Hernando County Fire Department, and is "Nana" to Ashlee, Kyle, Cory, Zach and Alan. Bassinger is vice president for Heritage Bank and has been active in the Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce since 2003. ...more

July 18, 2008

Independence Day, Brandon-style, began typically. By 5 a.m., people were staking claim to shady parade-viewing spots along Parsons Avenue. By 7:45 a.m., roads were being closed. By shortly after 8 a.m. in lawyer B. Lee Elam's office library, the new honorary mayor of Brandon was announced. Tammy Holmberg, owner of the Lake Brandon Village Chick-fil-A, won the race. ...more

July 16, 2008

Dolly Cummings, John Smith and Mary Ann Wilhelm all share the same goal: They want to be the honorary mayor of Ruskin. ...more

July 5, 2008

About 75 people waited patiently at Club Renaissance recently to learn who won the three-month race for honorary mayor of Apollo Beach. ...more

July 2, 2008

There's no question. Attorney Lee Elam has the best seat for the annual Brandon Fourth of July Parade. ...more

July 2, 2008

PALM HARBOR - This year's Greater Palm Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce honorary mayor's contest has been transformed into a popularity contest for local restaurateurs. The 4-month-long contest has also been expanded to allow more candidates to participate. ...more

June 28, 2008

Candidates for honorary mayor of Brandon have nearly four more weeks of fundraisers planned. ...more

June 9, 2008

When it came to picking this year's recipient of the Alice B. Tompkins Community Service Award, Steven Saunders said the choice was obvious. ...more

June 4, 2008

While Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton try to woo voters with speeches, debates and campaign visits, Jake Piascik and Tammy Holmberg prefer to win votes with luaus, poker parties, barn dances and cheeseburgers. ...more

May 31, 2008

Lorraine Bennett deftly balanced a plate of pasta, a stack of brochures and two sacks of swag as she led her husband through the throng at the Brandon Business Expo and Taste of Brandon. ...more

May 23, 2008