Second grader becomes mayor of Sarasota for a day

Second grade student Daniel Hernandez had somewhere more important to be than school on May 5: the mayor's seat.

He was there to sign a proclamation declaring himself Mayor for a Day.

Of course, he still had plenty of guidance for his new position. Over the course of the morning, Mayor Kyle Battie led him through the city of Sarasota to explain how it operates. 

Also accompanied by his mother Anna Hernandez, Daniel became acquainted with the city's IT department and police departments (the stop for which he was most excited), had the chance to bang the gavel in the commission chambers and enjoyed lunch with Battie at The Bay Park.

Photo by Ian Swaby

The rare opportunity arrived due to a silent auction held in support of Dreamer's Academy in which one of the winners was his grandfather, Danny Bilyeu. In April, another student, first grader Josie Drost, also had the chance to be Mayor for a Day as a result of the auction.

Battie said the initiative started when he read to about 50 students at Bay Haven School of Basics Plus. After realizing how excited they were, he decided to invite them to City Hall.

“This is all about getting children involved civically to some degree, and more importantly to let them know that they matter, and that we care, and that we believe in them," said Battie. "Belief is a tenant that as adults, we should all ascribe to when it comes to children."