Dad's dream job can become a reality

If you've ever wanted to be the mayor, a police officer or a judge, you better have a serious talk with your kids.

As part of the Father's Day "Dream Job" auction, children -- and adults, of course -- can bid on a dream job for their parents for a day. Winning bidders can spend a day as the mayor of Wasilla, an Anchorage Police Department officer, a Wasilla Police Department officer, an Anchorage firefighter, a Superior Court judge, a District Court magistrate or a weatherman.

The Mat-Su Youth Court is hosting the auction as a fund-raiser for its program.

"The idea came from the parents of one of our student-members," said Eileen Markiel of Mat-Su Youth Court. "It's the first time we've done it, and it's a pretty unique fund-raiser I think."

Bidding for each job starts at $25. Bidding is accepted through June 12 at 4 p.m. Winning bidders will be notified on June 13.

"They'll come in and pay their bid and pick up a certificate and then set up their day with the agency or the person they 'won' the day with," Markiel explained. "That way, they can coordinate it best into their schedule instead of having one set day to do it."

Markiel said winners of the auction will work side-by-side with the person to which they are assigned.

"He or she will come in to the Mayor's Office and go through a regular workday with them," Markiel said.

Bids can be placed by calling the Mat-Su Youth Court at 373-9045.