Boone the coon dog beat his closest opponent by 9,000 votes
Boone the bluetick coonhound is the new mayor of Rabbit Hash, Kentucky.
According to wlwt.com, he'll take over for Wilbur, the French bulldog, who won the 2020 mayoral race with 13,143 votes.
The tradition of selecting a canine mayor for the community extends back to the 1990s. Boone secured 14,162 votes, beating the next-closest entrant, Pablo, by almost 9,000 votes.
"Boone ran a tough campaign," Dave and Natasha Landwehr, Boone's owners, told WLWT. "He teamed up with Boone County Water Rescue to promote water safety and life vests. Boone also sponsored an erosion-control project that fixed damage the river caused to protect the Rabbit Hash store property. Boone sponsors the shuttle for Old Timers Day."
In a comment to a congratulatory post from the outgoing mayor, Boone thanked Wilbur for "coaching me on running a successful campaign. I certainly learned from the best! I've got big paws to fill for the next 4 years."
Every four years, Rabbit Hash residents can “vote” for their favorite canine candidate by donating $1 per vote to the Rabbit Hash Historical Society.
Boone’s official Facebook page states he has "a strong mind and heart, and a drive to make a difference," despite his young age (he was born on Dec. 23, 2023).