2025 Honorary Mayor Race

2025 Honorary Mayor  of Carmichael

Race Format

The Honorary Mayor of Carmichael Race has a rich history of vibrant competition and impactful fundraising. The current Honorary Mayor, Miranda Viani of All Stage Canine Development, continues a legacy of service following Kerri Mandes(2023) and Sal Ramirez (2022).

Race Format:

• Candidates will gather "votes" in the form of dollars raised for their chosen nonprofit (501c3) organizations.
• 75% of the funds raised will be donated to the candidate's nonprofit, while 25% will support the Carmichael Chamber of Commerce. 20% of the Carmichael Chamber of Commerce's portion will go to a community project of the chamber's choosing. This year will be dedicated to the installation of a flag pole at the Veterans Memorial Building at Carmichael Park.
• The candidate who raises the most money will be declared the winner.
• A minimum of $500 in "votes" is required for each candidate to be eligible.

Eligibility and Application Details:

• Applicants must be current members of the Carmichael Chamber of Commerce and over 18 years old. Non-members interested in participating can sign up for Chamber membership during the application process.
• The race will officially start on August 1, 2024, and will run until November 5, 2024, ending at 11:59 PM.

Chosen Nonprofit: infinite giving, INC

Kawanaa Carter, MD

I want to take a moment and introduce myself. I am Kawanaa Carter. I am a resident of Carmichael. I am a wife, a parent, a physician, mentor, and community advocate. I am your neighbor and proud to be a part of this community.

I co-founded a nonprofit organization called Infinite Giving. Our sole purpose is to give to those in need. We support the unhoused population, particularly women and children in the greater Sacramento area and surrounding counties. We founded the Del paso heights vaccination clinic during the height of the pandemic and vaccinated more than 20,000 Sacramento residents. We provide scholarships to young people from underserved communities who wish to pursue higher education. I, along with my family, are fierce advocates for the proposed Carmichael Park skatepark. These are just a few of the grassroots efforts and organizations we believe and support. Others include Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA); a volunteer organization that protects children’s rights in court, The Mustard Seed School, Sharing God’s Bounty, The Sacramento Food Bank and The Oak Park Homeless Advocacy Clinic.

Community service and advocacy are extremely important to me. Each of us has a role to play in helping our community thrive and I want to work with you to keep Carmichael a happy place to live and work.

Kawanaa Carter MD

Chosen Nonprofit: san juan education foundation

Tony Myers

Tony Myers is a passionate community advocate and a proud candidate in the Chamber Honorary Mayor Race for Carmichael. 

Tony is a proud father, and enjoys traveling for camping, sightseeing day trips, and enjoying educational experiences such as zoos, museums, and art galleries with his family. 

His dedication to community service is reflected in his active involvement with various local initiatives and organizations, most notably as a member of the Carmichael Chamber of Commerce's board of directors. With extensive experience running a successful local business and organizing numerous charitable events, Tony plans to leverage his robust connections with other retailers, organizations, and the local gaming community, through digital platforms and social media to fully engage and inspire the community.

Tony has chosen the San Juan Education Foundation as his nominated charity. The foundation’s mission to support and enhance the educational experiences of students in the San Juan Unified School District aligns perfectly with Tony’s belief in the transformative power of education. 

Through his campaign, Tony aims to raise awareness and funds to provide essential resources, scholarships, and innovative programs that will benefit students, teachers, and the broader community. 

Running for Honorary Mayor allows Tony to bring together his passion for community development with education to create lasting positive change for Carmichael.

Chosen Nonprofit: carmichael hart

Mikhaila Freas

As a current Charmichael resident and business owner, Mikhaila Freas is excited to announce their candidacy for Carmichael Chamber Honorary Mayor, proudly supporting Carmichael HART (Homeless Assistance Resource Team) as her chosen non-profit organization. As a dedicated local resident and avid volunteer, Mikhaila embodies the true spirit of community engagement.

Carmichael HART, an all-volunteer-run nonprofit, brings together faith communities, other non-profits, businesses, agencies, and individuals to support the unhoused community in the Carmichael area. In suburban communities like Carmichael, resources for the homeless are often scarce. Carmichael HART tackles this challenge head-on with essential programs such as Winter Respite, Saturday Showers, Meal Delivery, Transitional Housing, Community Outreach and Student Support. These programs are vital in ensuring that unhoused men, women, and children have access to the support they need.

Mikhaila frequents the local eateries in Carmichel, loves all things Disney and Marvel, and enjoys reading on her down time. She loves being engaged in the Carmichael and surrounding communities.

Chosen Nonprofit: victory christian school

Shelby Glass

Raised in Carmichael, Shelby Glass currently serves as the Director of Advancement at Victory Christian School, a private Christian institution established in 1963. Victory Christian School holds a special place in Shelby's heart. As an alumna, it was at Victory Christian where she met her wonderful husband and where their daughter will be enrolled in TK next year.

As part of her candidacy, Shelby has chosen to support Victory Christian School. Whether you share her faith or not, the commitment of Victory Christian School to equipping future leaders is undeniable. In today's challenging educational landscape, Victory provides students with the opportunities to thrive and succeed. By supporting Victory Christian, supporters are investing in a brighter future for the community, one where young people are well-prepared to face the complexities of the world.

Here's to equipping today's students for a promising future!

Chosen Nonprofit: Joshua's House

Celia Surridge is an Online Business and Marketing Manager with an extensive background in marketing and communications. For over 15 years, Celia has enjoyed helping businesses and non-profits grow through digital and growth marketing strategies. Prior to launching her own consultancy, Celia volunteered her time and held leadership roles within a wide variety of non-profit organizations. This experience has given her a deep understanding of how to build strong brands, engage communities, and achieve tangible results. 

Celia is passionate about bringing people together to move the greater Sacramento region forward. She is thrilled to be running for Honorary Mayor of Carmichael on behalf of Joshua's House Hospice and looks forward to connecting with more of the local community.