HUNTINGTON BEACH : Seniors Will Try to Buy Throne

Here’s a case in which candidates buy votes-- but it’s good, clean fun rather than dirty politics.

The Huntington Beach chapter of the National Council on Aging today launches its fourth annual Senior King and Senior Queen contest. Candidates for the royalty titles solicit “votes,” which are $1 each. The candidate raising the most money then becomes king or queen.

Money raised this year by the local Council on Aging chapter will go to the city’s new Youth Shelter, which is nearing completion at Central Park. The nonprofit shelter will take in runaways and homeless children until permanent housing can be found for them.

According to Rosemary Thomas, the Senior King and Queen pageant chairwoman, the annual fund-raiser generates about $10,000 a year.

“This will be our fourth year for this event, and the city of Huntington Beach co-sponsors this with us,” Thomas said. “It’s very much fun for the seniors. They get to meet all kinds of people, and we’ve found that it gets many seniors to get out more and get more involved.”

Thomas said senior organizations throughout the city have nominated their king and queen candidates. The individual candidates raise money, and so do their sponsoring organizations. All of the money is turned in by June 17, and the winners will be announced and crowned at a pageant and dance June 20 at the Rodgers Senior Center here.

“The king and queen get to represent the city in many events, including being on a special float at the city’s Fourth of July parade,” Thomas said. “They also appear before the City Council and take part in many other activities.”