Ready to kiss a pig?
Rick Kennedy — Managing Editor
LAKEPORT — 2007 Kiss-A-Pig Candidate Liesa Phillips is not phased by the prospect of puckering up to the porker. As a 13-year-old, Phillips says she had a pet piglet, and she recalls kissing it many times.
“I would say I”m well prepared for his,” Phillips said with laughter, “but, I happen to like pigs. They are very interesting and intelligent animals, and of course, I”m hoping to win this.”
Joking asi-de, Phillips, the owner of Lakeport”s Phillip”s Rugrats Reruns, said she entered the Kiss-A-Pig contest out of a civic duty and to help the Lakeport Chamber, of which she is a member.
“Dealing with the Girl Scouts, I”ve done fundraisers many times. I just wanted to help out the Chamber this year. I had thought about it before, but finally, got around to committing to it. I want to help the Chamber and the various charities raise money. It is important for the community,” Phillps said.
In the early course of her candidacy, Phillips has painted the window of her store, and she plans to have custom T-shirts as well as a interstore raffle to raise money.
As for her kissing strategy if she wins, “I will likely kiss the pig on the side of the snout; the front of the nose can be a bit slimy.
In other Kiss-A-Pig updates, Luanne Hays of Luanne”s Gymnastics in Lakeport is the newest candidate to join the expanding field of pig-pucker prospects, and Chamber Director Melissa Fulton released the first dollar update Friday with Nick Norcio of McDonald”s taking the early lead.
“Nick has started off strong, but I am confident the others will close in on him. We have a great field of candidates this year,” Fulton said.
The top five fundraisers as of Friday were: Norcio of McDonald”s (1); Mike Gossett of Gossett Alarm (2), Greg Bailey, retired CHP (3), Mike Curren of Lakeport Police Dept. (4), and Carli Tippet (5).
Phillips and Joy Swetnam of Lake Family Resource Center are tied for the sixth spot with no other candidates reporting activity.
Today, the Hardesters Market will host a candidate”s rally from 10 am to noon, and May 5, another rally will be held at Bruno”s Food.
