Animal Politicians: 10 US Cities That Have Elected Furry Mates

Final Up to date on: March 22, 2023 by Crystal Uys

Most of us love our pets, irrespective of how messy they make our houses or how a lot fur they depart on our garments. Many people wouldn’t say the identical about politicians, however most of them are in all probability used to that! However what in regards to the instances the place an animal can be a politician? On this article, we’ll inform you about 10 US cities which have elected lovely furry buddies into workplace.

Our 10 Favourite US Cities With Animal Politicians:

1. Sunol, California

In 1981, the residents of Sunol, an unincorporated city close to San Francisco, elected a canine named Bosco as their mayor. Bosco ran towards two people and obtained 75 of the 120 votes within the election. Bosco was a Lab-Rottweiler combine, and his marketing campaign promise was “a bone in each dish, a cat in each tree, and a fireplace hydrant in each nook.”

The canine mayor spent his time in workplace touring round city along with his proprietor, visiting along with his constituents. In 1987, the mayor’s workplace was briefly left open when Bosco mysteriously disappeared for per week. Fortunately, he returned safely to Sunol and remained honorary mayor till he died in 1994. In case you go to Sunol immediately, you will discover a statue of Bosco and a neighborhood brewery named in his honor.

2. Talkeetna, Alaska

The tiny city of Talkeetna, Alaska, named its first animal politician in 1997, a cat named Stubbs who lived on the native common retailer. Stubbs remained in workplace for 20 years till he died in 2017. He “labored” out of his workplace within the common retailer. The native residents appreciated their feline mayor’s dedication to by no means elevating taxes.

Reportedly, Stubbs drank water spiked with catnip out of a wineglass. After Stubbs’ demise, a brother-sister cat duo named Aurora and Denali took over his duties.

3. Rabbit Hash, Kentucky

Rabbit Hash, an unincorporated city in Kentucky, elected its first canine mayor in 1998. The city holds these “elections” as a fundraiser for the city’s historic society throughout every presidential election yr.

In 2008, after two consecutive male canines held workplace, the city elected its first feminine mayor, a Border Collie named Lucy Lou. Lucy Lou left workplace in 2016 and was changed by a pit bull named Brynneth Pawltro, who beat out a cat and a donkey for the function. The present mayor is a French Bulldog named Wilbur, who was elected in 2020 on the tender age of 6 months.

4. Lajitas, Texas

Lajitas, an unincorporated border city in Texas, is presently on its fourth goat mayor. The primary goat, named Clay Henry I, was elected in 1986. Clay Henry’s proprietor, irritated that an out-of-towner from Houston was working for mayor, first unsuccessfully ran him for mayor in 1985. By the subsequent yr, Clay Henry I used to be in cost. Since then, Clay Henry’s descendants have continued serving as mayors. Clay Henry IV, the present mayor, lives in a pen on the Lajitas Common Retailer and is a nationally well-known tourism draw. All of the Clay Henrys rose to fame for his or her love of ingesting beer, and the present mayor isn’t any exception.

5. Eastsound, Washington

Every year since 2009, the unincorporated city of Eastsound holds an animal mayor election as a fundraiser for a neighborhood preschool. The present mayor is a canine named Candy Woman Love, however she’s going to quickly get replaced by a brand new politician in 2023. Eastsound has seen a various number of animal politicians through the years, together with an orca named Granny, who was elected in 2015.

Candy Woman Love changed the Bearded Dragon, Ricky, elected in 2021. Most mayors have been canines, however a cow and rabbit have additionally held the workplace. The city takes the election significantly, with candidates sustaining a full slate of marketing campaign stops and an official web site and Fb web page devoted to the yearly occasion.

6. Cormorant Village, Minnesota

From 2014 to 2019, the small city of Cormorant Village, Minnesota, was “ruled” by a Nice Pyrenees named Duke. As a part-time farm canine, Duke was elected by way of write-in votes in 2014 and was constantly re-elected in a landslide yearly till he died in 2019. In 2016, Duke obtained each vote apart from one, which went to his girlfriend, Lassie.

No phrase on how this impacted their relationship standing, however Duke’s recognition with the townspeople was by no means in query. Duke’s duties as mayor primarily concerned ceremonial appearances in parades (the place he wore an official high hat) and spending time on the native bars. Since his demise, the function of city mayor has been left empty in his honor.

7. Fairhaven, Vermont

Fairhaven, Vermont, elected its first pet mayor in 2019, a goat named Lincoln. Since then, the city has held a brand new “election” every year. One other goat, Linda, gained workplace in 2020, and the primary canine mayor, Murfee, took cost in 2021. The present mayor is one other goat named Elsa, who was elected in 2022.

College students take care of the pet mayor candidates on the native elementary college, and the youngsters get to vote alongside the adults. The primary pet mayor election was held as a fundraiser for a brand new college playground. Mayor Murfee and his human proprietor took cost of a profitable effort to carry a canine park to city, though the pet mayor’s function is primarily seen as symbolic.

8. Omena, Michigan

Each three years, the city of Omena, Michigan, holds an election for a brand new pet mayor. This contest serves as a fundraiser for the city’s historic society, and competitors may be fierce. Any animal who lives within the city is eligible to run, and the sphere of candidates can run as excessive as 18 potential politicians.

The present mayor, elected in 2021, is a Lab combine named Rosie. Different official city positions are additionally held by animals, corresponding to a rooster named Penny Labriola serving because the vice-mayor. The 2nd vice-mayor is the city’s earlier pet mayor, a cat named Candy Tart, who obtained in depth nationwide media protection in 2018 after her election.

9. Idyllwild, California

As an unincorporated city positioned about 100 miles from Los Angeles, Idyllwild elected its first canine mayor in 2012. The election served as a fundraiser for the native animal rescue, and any resident may nominate their pet. The primary mayor, a Golden Retriever named Max, gained two-thirds of the vote over 13 different canines and two cats.

Sadly, Max handed away after lower than a yr in workplace. Reasonably than maintain one other election, the city determined to proceed the custom of “Mayor Max” by giving the workplace to a different Golden Retriever who was distantly associated to the primary mayor. Mayor Max II served for 9 years earlier than his demise in July 2022. The brand new Mayor, Max III, a Golden Retriever pet, formally took workplace in December 2022.

10. Georgetown, Colorado

The honorary mayor of Georgetown, Colorado, is a Bernese Mountain Canine named Parker, who’s one thing of a canine movie star within the space. He’s the official mascot of Loveland Ski Space and has his personal web site, merch gross sales, and e-mail to ebook appearances. Parker is continuously noticed alongside nationwide media personalities and Denver Broncos and Colorado Rockies gamers.

He frequently pops up on nationally televised soccer video games, together with not less than as soon as this previous season. Parker additionally makes loads of time for charity work in his function as honorary mayor.

Conclusion

As you’ll be able to see, America has an extended custom of electing animal mayors of all sizes and styles. Many proceed to win re-election yr after yr with little resistance, which is a refreshing change of tempo in comparison with human political occasions! Whereas these animal politicians all maintain largely symbolic roles, they nonetheless present the ten cities on our record with advantages corresponding to elevated tourism, fundraising, and nationwide media consideration. Civic responsibility is available in many kinds, in any case!

Featured Picture Credit score: Viktor Gladkov, Shutterstock

In regards to the writer

Cat mother to Ivy – a feisty little rescue kitten that’s her one and solely baby. For now! All through her life, she has been launched to the particular love that may be discovered within the bond with a cat. Having owned a number of felines, she is greater than sure that their love is unmatched, unconditional and in contrast to some other. With a ardour to teach the general public about every part, there may be to find out about felines, their habits, and their distinctive personalities, Crystal is devoted to creating positive that every one cats and their house owners know the significance of acutely aware dwelling – and loving!