For one town – their bought-and-paid-for Mayoral election didn’t make residents angry. Instead, it left them thrilled and hoping to repeat the process each election year. They didn’t even mind that the newest politician kept eating his neckties. After all, a dog mayor can’t be expected to always be a ‘good boy’.
In Idyllwild, Calif., this unincorporated community handpicked its elected leader – a 1-year-old golden retriever named Mayor Max III. That’s right, the third – it’s a family dynasty that runs this tiny town. Idyllwild is technically under the jurisdiction of Riverside County District 4.
But since it has no local government, the town decided to do something unique instead: elect a pet as mayor. The first election, conducted in 2012, had 14 dogs and 2 cats on the ballot. The vote was run by the Animal Rescue Friends of Idyllwild (ARF) in the hopes of raising money for the shelter.
Mayor Max visits the residents of his town. Photo courtesy of Phyllis Mueller
“It was promoted as the election you could buy,” said Phyllis Mueller, Mayor Max III’s self-proclaimed chief of staff. She is also the owner of the current and past Idyllwild mayors. The first election in the town of about 3,000 residents, brought in more than $31,000 for ARF.
They have all been excellent leaders,” she said of the dogs.
Each vote was $1, Mueller said, and people could vote as many times as they would like. She and her husband wrote a $20,000 check, as well. Mueller said she and her husband, along with Max I, had moved to the town in 2011. “We campaigned hard,” she said. “We won that election in a landslide victory.”
Despite the election’s goal of being just a fundraising event, Mueller and her husband, Glenn Warren, took their dog’s new role seriously. “I didn’t take it as a joke. I saw it as an honor and an opportunity to really do something great,” she said.
Mayor Max III has a tendency to eat his ties. Photo by Phyllis Mueller
When Mayor Max I took office, the town fell in love. “This is an opportunity to be the real mayor of Idyllwild and do the real job, but without politics,” Mueller said. “He loves everybody unconditionally. It’s nonpartisan; it’s nonpolitical. I’m going with it.”
Mayor Max attended weddings, visited schools, hospitals, birthdays and nursing homes, while also helping with multiple charity drives. “The community overwhelmingly agreed that a canine mayor or a feline mayor is better than any human,” said Janice Murasko, the director of operations at ARF.
We never expected it would turn into this.”
Sadly, after only 9 months into his two-year-term, Max I died at age 11. The town was devastated, but Mueller and the rest of the town were in agreement: Mueller would adopt another golden retriever that would automatically become Mayor Max II.
The town went on to decide that mayors should remain in office for life, and each mayor would be followed by the next family member. Mayor Max II was mayor for more than nine years, before he passed away. And in December, Mayor Max III was sworn in. “People ask me if the dogs know that they’re the mayor, and they absolutely do,” Mueller said.
Max III has a small staff that is made up of his two “deputy co-mayors” both golden retrievers. Mitzi and Mikey tag along to events with Max III. He even has a “vice mayor”, another golden retriever named Meadow. All four dogs are owned by Mueller and her husband.
The dogs dress for their job, including fancy neckties so they look professional. However, sometimes a dog will be a dog – and a tie or two gets chewed. “I’m dangerously low on ties right now, because they keep eating them,” Mueller said. But aside from the few wardrobe malfunctions, there is no plan for the dogs to stop being mayor.
The couple is determined to keep the mayors in office. “With the mayors, I want to remind people that there is good in the world. Every day, people do good things,” Mueller said. “These dogs here, they are living angels, and they love you with all their heart.” For a look at this good-boy mayor, watch below!
Sources: Washington Post | The Guardian
