Deirdre Habershaw (center) with state Rep. Dan Cullinane and his wife, Emily Torres-Cullinane. Photo courtesy Rep. Cullinane The 2016 Mayor of Dorchester contest is officially underway, and while it won’t be very competitive— only a single candidate is in the running— the “race” is intended to generate much-needed funds and excitement for the June Dot Day Parade. This year, Deirdre Habershaw has stepped forward to seek the ceremonial title. Habershaw, 33, grew up in Savin Hill and is now raising her own family with her husband Auston in Ashmont/Adams. She has until May 17 to raise as much money as she can for this year’s Dorchester Day Parade on June 5. “I love the diversity of Dorchester and the strong sense of community,” said Habershaw, who has two young daughters. “I decided to run because the Dorchester Day parade is the physical manifestation of both our strong traditional neighborhood roots and our growing and changing community. Every year, a small organization spends countless hours planning and budgeting for the parade. The Mayor of Dorchester position was developed way back as a plan for the community to have fun and raise money for an event all of the residents of Dorchester and the surrounding communities enjoy. “I personally have a lot of happy memories growing up watching the parade in Savin Hill with my parents, and now I have the joy of watching it with my children in Peabody Square,” Habersaw said. “I felt that it was my turn to pitch in and support the parade like so many other mayoral candidates have before me.” She’s getting advice from the current mayor, Erin Murphy and past participants like Peter Sasso. The dates are not set in stone yet, but look out for Habershaw’s public events that she will be holding throughout the months of April and May. “I have set up a Deirdre for Mayor of Dorchester page on Facebook, which soon will have a series of events listed. It currently has a link to my Crowdrise page where online donations can be made,” says Habershaw. Also, don’t miss the annual Kick-Off Meatloaf Dinner on Thurs., March 26 at First Parish Church, Dorchester. For a full calendar of public events and deadlines, please visit dotdayparade.com.