At a hog roast, appropriately, the biggest money-getter is crowned in the most lucrative race ever.
By JAY CRIDLIN
Published April 30, 2004
Riverview has a new honorary mayor.
Patti Greene, owner of the Salon of Summerfield, earned the title after raising the most money for charity and the Greater Riverview Chamber of Commerce.
Greene raised more than $7,000; in all, the four candidates raised a record $15,000. The money will be split between the chamber and a charity of each candidate's choosing.
"It feels like the community really rallied behind me," said Greene, who was crowned the victor before a crowd of about 800 at a hog roast at April 24 at Lupton's Boggy Bottom Bar-B-Que Ranch. "I definitely was very surprised."
Greene replaces Bud Hunt, the three-time incumbent and a candidate this year.
Greene's charity was the ALS Association, which battles Lou Gehrig's disease. Other candidates raised money for the Shriners Hospital for Children, the Brandon Crisis Pregnancy Center and Riverview Elementary School.
This year's $15,000 is by far the most raised. But chamber executive director Debra Smith said she thinks the mayor's race still has room to grow.
"I think it's getting more and more exciting," she said. "I think it's going to get bigger and bigger."
