PRAYER BREAKFAST DRAWS LARGE CROWD.

Byline: EUGENE TONG Staff Writer

VALENCIA - A prayer breakfast event that ignited controversy over its usage of the title ``Mayor'' in its name took place Friday with little rancor.

The second Mayor's Prayer Breakfast organized by the Dunamis Group - a local Christian men's club - drew about 270 to the Hyatt Valencia, more than the 250 expected, said Joe Messina, the group's chairman.

An opposition group called Santa Clarita for the Separation of Church and State took issue with the event's use of ``Mayor'' in the name - they believed it implied official endorsement by the city of Santa Clarita. Others preferred a nondenominational prayer event that includes other faiths.

This year, organizers kept the ``Mayor'' title, but also acknowledged ``other elected leaders'' in the name. Mayor Laurene Weste addressed the crowd, though no city funds went into it.

``I don't see it going away any time soon,'' Messina said.

Animator Butch Hartman, creator of ``The Fairly OddParents,'' was the keynote speaker. State Sen. George Runner, R-Lancaster, also was slated to speak, but canceled late Thursday due to business in Sacramento, Messina said.

Seven members of the city's Interfaith Council attended, along with Santa Clarita City Council members Cameron Smyth and Marsha McLean.

Messina said the event raised roughly $1,000 for the group. The money might go toward next year's breakfast or to local charities, he said.

eugene.tong(at)dailynews.com

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