By RHEA-FRANCES TETLEY
Staff Writer
Voting is now underway for the 2024 Grand Poobah of Crestline. The winner will be announced and hatted at the community picnic on June 30 at the San Moritz Meadow and then ride on the Rim of the World Recreation and Park District float in the Jamboree Days parade. The Grand Poobah gets to keep the hat he is hatted with, as part of the honor of winning.
The Grand Poobah may be called upon sometimes during the year to attend ribbon cuttings and other community events. This has become a part of Jamboree Days, as both a fundraiser and as a way to honor something or someone that is worthy of being admired and liked by many. It is a completely fun fundraising activity for Jamboree Days. Candidates can campaign and can control the voting, as votes are “bought and paid for.”
The idea of the Grand Poobah has a Crestline history dating back to the Honorary Mayor contests of decades ago, where people made promises to improve the community, although they had no responsibility nor requirement to do so. The contest was run in those days by the Crestline Bar Owners Association who worked together to raise funds to help pay for the fireworks. It was often the most popular bar patron who won. That was back in the days when the fireworks were much less expensive.
After COVID, the need to raise more finds for the more expensive fireworks brought up this fun idea again. After hearing about the old time Honorary Mayor contests, Gunnar Jorgenson activated the idea with a twist, with the rules saying that it must only be a “being living in Crestline with a heartbeat” that was being voted for, that votes were $1 each and people could vote as many times as they wanted. The election can be totally bought by anyone, if they convince enough people to buy enough votes with their name on them. The bottom line purpose is to raise funds for fireworks.
There are seven locations where voting is taking place at this time; look for the bucket with a pen and envelopes in it. Put the name of the candidate and $1 for each vote and place it in the bucket, which is collected twice a week. The standings can be followed on Facebook at the “Crestline Grand Poobah Discussion” page.
Anyone of any age may vote for any candidate or nominate some candidate of their own choosing, at any location. Vote before June 28 at the Rim of the World Sports Bar, Encompass Antiques and Gifts, the Crestline Café, San Marzano, the Bear Claw, Crestline Jerky and Roundtable Pizza.
At press time these are the eight candidates with votes for Grand Poobah: Amber Crubaugh of the Crestline Café; Travis Pasternostro of Crestline Jerky; Cliff Harrington III of the Rim of the World Sports Bar; Mario Carajal of the Bear Claw; Phoenix, the daughter of Gunnar Jorgenson; Uncle Mott aka Douglas Motley of the Alpine Mountaineer newspaper; Chris Osterhold; and Bob Frosh. More could be added at any time.
Whichever voting location brings in the most votes will be named the “Home of the Grand Poobah” and a banner may be hung at their place of business for the next year, an honor the Bear Claw currently holds.
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