Valley Center Honorary Mayor

Current Honorary Mayor for Valley Center 2025-26 – Marlyce Howard

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The Honorary Mayor of Valley Center is the most senior non-official position in Valley Center. A decades-old tradition, the position has zero power but comes with bragging rights, a sash, and is encouraged to attend events in the community as our most important honorary mayor. Mayors are encouraged to promise everything and deliver nothing. No property taxes for life? No problem! Your mayor is here to deliver! Campaigns kick off during the annual Valley Center Irish Stew Cook-off in March, then winners announced in May. The term is one year beginning 10:00 a.m. when the Western Days Parade begins and ends at 9:59 a.m. the following year at the Western Days Parade. The first official duty of Honorary Mayor is to ride in the Western Days Parade and receive the adoration of the teeming masses for that one thrilling pass on Valley Center Road. 

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VC Honorary Mayor Contest and Fundraiser Rules

• Any service club, non-profit, or group of individuals are eligible to enter the Honorary Mayors Race contest and must declare candidacy at the VC Irish Stew Cook-off held in March.
• It must be run as a fundraiser for a charity/non-profit of your choice, or for your group. Funds raised may not be for profit.
• The candidate will be interviewed for the Valley Magazine and Valley Roadrunner.
• The candidate is expected to have outrageous campaign promises!
• The title of Honorary Mayor has no value other than bragging rights. There is no significant distinction or duties. The winner will have a very important sash that may be worn around town.
• The contest runs from the Irish Stew Cook-off (mid-March) to the VCBA Annual Dinner (early-May)
• The idea of the contest is to raise money (and a lot of it) for your group or charity. 
• Updated for 2026: The candidate will receive one chip for each $100 (or part thereof) raised. (Example: You raise $1,000, you get 10 chips) At the Valley Center Business Association Partners Appreciation Dinner, all candidates will present to the VCBA Treasurer a check made payable to VCBA, or cash, totaling 10% of the total funds raised for the program.  90% is retained by the candidates group.  (Example:  Group raises $1,200.  Payment for $120 to VCBA.  Group retains the remaining $1,000 for their non-profit or charity) Twelve chips will be assigned to that candidate.  Deadline to turn payment to Treasurer shall be 6:00pm. Selection shall be made that evening approximately 6:30/45pm. Payment to VCBA covers Mayor program expenses with remaining to benefit the LoveVC program.
• Updated for 2026: The Honorary Mayor is selected by random drawing during the Valley Center Business Association Partners Appreciation Dinner in early May.  All chips will be placed in a barrel and the winning chip will be drawn by a randomly selected audience member, or Miss Valley Center, if not a contestant.
•  Final and most important rule:  Raise money for your favorite charity and HAVE FUN!

Do you want to toss your hat in the 2026-27 race?
Email Mayor@WesternDays.org with your name and group/business you’re associated with, or if you’re running independently. We’ll shoot you over all the details on how you can win this prestigious history-making position. Good luck! The non-profit Valley Center Business Association is the organizer of the Honorary Mayors Race and program.

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The last couple of “Mayor-type figures” – with all that fame and power, they are always trying to take the title back!

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