RABBIT HASH, Ky. – While the U.S. presidential election is still being contested, in Rabbit Hash, Kentucky, the votes are in and the town has a new mayor, Wilbur, a French bulldog.
Wilbur Beast received a record 13,143 votes to unseat incumbent Brynneth Pawltro, a pit bull mix, WCPO reported.
“He’s done a lot of interviews locally, he’s had a lot of pets, a lot of belly scratches and a lot of ear rubs,” Amy Noland, who adopted 6-month old Wilbur four months ago, told NBC News.
Jack Rabbit, a beagle, finished second and Poppy, a golden retriever, finished third. Both will be ambassadors for the town.
Sound strange? The Boone County community has elected a dog as mayor every four years since 1998. The canines don’t make legislative decisions though. The tradition started as a fundraiser by the Rabbit Hash Historical Society to help pay to maintain historic buildings.
>> Dog, rooster, donkey run for mayor’s office
This year, 13 dogs, a donkey, a rooster and a deceased cat were campaigning for the mayor’s seat. There was a lone human candidate. The campaigns raised a record $22,985 for the historical society, WLWT reported.
“I got to meet so many lovely people in the last 24 hours and I can’t wait to meet so many more,” Wilbur said on social media. “I am humbled and beyond thankful for all of the support from far away and right here at home.”
