Honorary Mayor Of Brandon Race To Begin June 1

By Nicole Heubusch

The tradition of Honorary Mayor of Brandon continues this year with two participants who are hoping to raise as much money as they can for the charities of their choice. In the running this year is Kerrie Hoening of the Osprey Observer, and Michelle Hernandez of Romero Insurance and Financial Services. As usual, there will no money collected until Monday, June 1 and the campaign will run until 8 a.m. on Saturday, July 4. The money will be counted right before the start of Brandon’s Annual Fourth of July Parade, and an Honorary Mayor will be named.

Hoening has lived in the Brandon community for almost her whole life. She attended Bloomingdale High School, and currently resides in the Lithia area with her husband of 22 years, Jeff, and their children Dirk, Megan and Zach. Hoening is currently the Territorial Manager for the Bloomingdale-FishHawk edition of the Osprey Observer. She is a member of the Valrico-FishHawk Chamber, the South Shore Business Chamber, a board member of IMPACT, attends FishHawk Fellowship Church with her family, and sings with the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay. Hoening will be raising money for the charities IMPACT and Lifecare Network of Brandon and Southshore.

“I am running for the Mayor’s race this year to bring both awareness and much needed funding to two local charities that are very dear to my heart: IMPACT and LifeCare Network of Brandon, both of which support and educate on sexual risk-avoidance, as well as adoption and parent education for unplanned pregnancies. It’s important to educate our young adults on the choices they can make to preserve their life, as well as the life of their unborn children,” said Hoening. For more information and a list of Hoening’s upcoming events, visit on.fb.me/1EhGU9f.

Hernandez also attended a local high school, King, and is a resident of the Valrico area with her husband, Kenneth, and kids Jimmy, Kenneth and Abby. Hernandez is a Board Member of Center Place and the Valrico-FishHawk Chamber and the Bell Shoals Baptist School’s PTA among other organizations. Hernandez’s charities of choice are Center Place, the Brandon Foundation and the Bloomingdale High School Academic Foundation.

“As Honorary Mayor of Brandon, I will strive to bring back a sense of community back to Brandon, and bring awareness to needs in our immediate are, our town,” said Hernandez.

For more information and a list of Hernandez’s upcoming events, visit www.facebook.com/hernandez4brandonmayor.