Not everyone can say a room lights up when they enter, even if that person is an elected official. But once a year when Mecklenburg County (N.C.) Commission Chairman Parks Helms enters a room, he knows that is exactly what is going to happen.

Helms is in his third year of playing Santa Claus for the county’s annual Paperback Presents Plus holiday celebration. Since 1988, county employees have donated new and used books for less fortunate children and adults. Each year, as part of the program, the county throws a party for some area school children. The children are treated to lunch, musical performances, gift bags with a new book and best of all, a visit from the big man himself, Santa Claus.

“I was reluctant to be Santa Claus at first,” Helms said when he was approached in 1998 after the previous Santa Claus retired. “I never thought of myself as dressing up in a red suit, but when I did it the first time, I really enjoyed it. When you see these young children and their eyes light up. They really did believe that I was Santa Claus.”

Helms said playing Santa Claus, as well as participating in his church’s Christmas tableau for nearly 40 years has really helped him understand what Christmas is all about.

Also sharing in the special meaning of the season for the first time this year was Mrs. Claus. Commission Vice Chair Becky Carney has helped with the event in the past, but never in such a special capacity.

“When you’re in an elected position you get so few chances to do these fun things that really do have an impact right at the heart of these children,” Carney said.

Playing Mrs. Claus came naturally to Carney who has five grown children and has done children’s theater in years past.

“I tried to hug each of the children and give that gentle touch that Mrs. Claus would,” Carney said. “They asked me all sorts of questions like ‘Is he really your husband?’ And you’re in character, but you don’t want to lie to them either. They truly believed I was Mrs. Claus.”

Carney treated the children to her rendition of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas and just as she reached the part where a clatter was arising out on the lawn, a clatter began arising in the lobby of the government center and Santa Claus arrived in all his jingly glory.

In his role as Santa Claus, Helms lead the children in singing carols, passed out presents and of course, took the time to listen to what the children want for Christmas.

“When you go up the children you can feel them tugging at your coat. They just want to touch Santa Claus,” Helms said. “I think for some of these children, it is perhaps the best Christmas they will have.”

Even though most of the children were thrilled to meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus, Carney said there were a few in the audience who never quite warmed to the jolly duo.

“There was this one little girl, when I asked her what she wanted for Christmas, she just wouldn’t speak and she had this little sad, distant look in her eyes,” Carney related. “And I kept coming back to her and I got Santa to speak to her and she still wouldn’t say anything. It was a reminder to me that not all children are happy and joyous at this time of year. It was a reminder that we must do more.”

With the help of the Charlotte Hornets, the program collects about 3,000 books and other small gifts to pass out to the children at the party and in the community. Helms and Carney both strongly support the distribution of books as gifts because education is one of the Commission’s primary responsibilities.

“To me,” Carney said. “Every child should grow up with books. Books are the magic door that open the world for all children.”

But part of the world that is opened to children is the ever increasingly secular world: a world where Santa Claus is almost banned from a holiday parade in a small Maryland community, and an elected official walks a fine line when portraying the happy ambassador of the holiday spirit.

“I realize that most of what we do is subject to criticism by some people and I think that it is important that we be sensitive,” Helms said. “But there is no reason for those of us that celebrate Christmas to be prevented from sharing that experience. My sense is that Christmas is all about inclusiveness anyway. Christmas is love and that’s what we’re expressing when we give the gifts and share the joy of the season.”

And were Carney and Helms worried that the events of Sept. 11 and the current war would dampen the joy of the season? Not one bit. Helms, who recently spent some time in New York City and at ground zero, took inspiration from the New Yorkers he met.

“I think everyone, New Yorkers in particular, are celebrating the season, perhaps with a greater appreciation of what it really means than they ever have before,” Helms said. “I think they are not going to allow anyone to take away the traditions that are so important to them and to us and I’m the same way. I’m simply not going to allow those who take away our kind of life keep me from celebrating the traditions and values that are important.”