Cota, Martin launch ‘Rancho Bernardo mayor’ campaigns

Rancho Bernardo’s honorary mayor candidates are getting busy with campaigning now that their fundraiser party plans are underway.

Tina Cota and Kevin Martin are the 2015 candidates for the good-natured contest organized by the Rancho Bernardo Business Association as a fundraiser for several community organizations.

The candidate who raises the most money will be named honorary mayor, while the runner-up will become deputy honorary mayor. The contest results will be announced at Savour RB on Oct. 20.

Their supporters also have an opportunity to win prizes. RBBA presents three grand prizes during a drawing of “votes” by supporters. Votes are $5 each or six for $25. The drawing will be during Savour RB and winners need not be present.

First place is a two-night stay at the Rancho Bernardo Inn, which includes a round of golf and breakfast for two. Second place is four $75 gift certificates — one each to Athens Market Cafe, Bernard’O Restaurant, Café Merlot and Carvers Steaks & Chops — a combined value of $300. Third place is two $75 gift certificates — one each to The Barrel Room and Urge American Gastropub — a combined value of $150.

To buy votes supporting Cota, email her at tinacota4RBmayor@gmail.com. For Martin, email him at KevinMartinRBMayor@gmail.com.

Both said they will award other prizes during their private parties plus at an Aug. 13 casino night in Bernardo Heights Country Club that is organized by RBBA. Admission is $25, which includes 50 casino chips. Purchase casino night tickets from either candidate or contact Larry McIntyre at Larry@RBBAconnect.com or 858-487-5148. At the event, 100 extra casino chips are $20.

Cota said she plans to have hundreds of dollars of silent auction items up for bid, including a round of golf for two at La Costa Country Club with former Boston Red Sox player Fred Lynn. Martin said his silent auction items include rounds of golf, dinners and fitness classes.

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Cota moved to Rancho Bernardo in 2012 after living in Poway for a dozen years. She is a real estate consultant with Ranch and Village Homes of Coldwell Banker and has a 17-year-old daughter, Kelly.

Her community activities have included being a Girl Scout leader, Pop Warner cheer coach, yearbook chairwoman at St. Michael’s School, foster director for Baja Animal Sanctuary and director of the Council for Youth Empowerment Scholarship pageants (Miss 4S Ranch, Miss North County Inland and Miss North Coast). She recently won the 2015 Elite American Beauty national title.

Cota said wants to be honorary mayor because it is an opportunity to represent RB and the RBBA, support the organization and “help us meet our sense of community and pride for (the) Rancho Bernardo area through participation, via membership and volunteerism.” She also entered because it raises money for groups the RBBA supports, like the Miss Rancho Bernardo Scholarship Pageant, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego, Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation, Rancho Bernardo Historical Society and Rancho Bernardo Library.

Her private party is set for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8 at the Country Club of Rancho Bernardo. It will be a comedy night featuring Craig Shoemaker. He was named “Funniest Male Stand-up Comic” at the American Comedy Awards and had a popular show on Comedy Central.

Admission is $45 per person, which includes two drink tickets, or get reserved seating and two drinks for $75. To purchase, send an email to tinacota4RBmayor@gmail.com or call Andrew Polansky at 858-822-9459.

Cota said her big drawing prize, awarded on Oct. 20, will be a six nights, seven days stay in a three bedroom, 3 1/2 bath home at a golf course and near a ski resort in Big Fork, Montana. The prize that includes airfare for two is valued at $3,000. Drawing tickets are $50.

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Martin has been part of Rancho Bernardo for more than 30 years, starting as a teen living in Rancho Penasquitos when he worked in RB and later moved here. In 2007, he lost his home during the Witch Creek fire, but rebuilt in Rancho Bernardo.

“During the fires I saw the outpouring of support and realized how important it is to be part of the community and directly involved with the community,” Martin said. “At that point I joined the Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation, for the last few years led its grants committee and have seen the wide variety of community service organizations that support our community.”

He added, “Being Rancho Bernardo’s mayor is another way to be involved and demonstrate to people of all ages how important it is to be involved and in touch with all of the community.”

He is the director of business development at Inspirage, a global supply chain consulting firm. Martin and his wife, Julie, own and operate Gear Up, an apparel business that does screen printing and other services for local schools and organizations.

Martin has two daughters, 17-year-old Emily and 15-year-old Haley, plus a 6-year-old stepdaughter, Nina.

Martin said he is planning two private events. At the end of August there will be an ice cream social and wine tasting, which will include a drawing for a round of golf and lessons by a local golf pro.

His second private event will be a September social and silent auction at the Rancho Bernardo Inn. Its special drawing will be for a “staycation” at the Hilton Grand Vacations Club at MarBrisas in Carlsbad.

Martin said supporters can pay $100 to attend both private events, receive 24 raffle tickets and have access to special raffles; or pay $150 to attend his private events, receive 36 tickets and be invited to a private “high donor” event in late October.

To buy party tickets, contact him at KevinMartinRBMayor@gmail.com or go to KevinMartinRBMayor.wordpress.com.