San Pedro is a place with deep traditions.
And despite being part of the massive city of Los Angeles, San Pedro is still, in many ways, a “small,” close-knit town with a strong cultural identity.
A key example of this is the port community’s “Honorary Mayor campaign.”
The campaign, usually held every two years, sponsors all kinds of public events, from chili cookouts to boat tours and casino nights, to raise money for charities and nonprofits selected by the candidates vying for what is an honorary, unpaid title.
Winning is straight forward: raise the most money and pledges for a chosen nonprofit cause — and the job is yours.
And the haul is no small change: Candidate collections can hit in the $30,000 to $50,000 range.
Longshore worker Joe Donato, a past president of ILWU’s Local 13, won San Pedro’s Honorary Mayor’s race 2007 by raising more than $106,000 in donations for the Harbor Interfaith Shelter.
The pandemic canceled the popular event from 2020-22. But this year, the campaign is back.
It launched in February and is set to wind up in June. It’s in full swing, with four candidates:
- Rock Ashfield, a Realtor and development manager of Palm Boutique Realty in downtown San Pedro, who is raising money for Bridge Cities Alliance and the Los Angeles Maritime Institute.
- Manny Jimenez, founder and CEO of Black Knight Patrol, who is raising money for LAPD Harbor Boosters and Harbor Connects.
- Gaby Medina, a community advocate and former district director for former Councilmember Joe Buscaino, who is raising money for Sharefest Community Development.
- Yolanda Regalado, owner of Sirens Java & Tea in downtown San Pedro, who is raising money for Pedro Pet Pals and “Women Are Heroes Too” (Veterans West).
“People were talking about it, asking if the campaign was coming back,” said John Bagakis, a former Honorary Mayor and managing partner of Big Nick’s Pizza. “We felt it was time.”
Candidates are given the freedom to create their…
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