Wilbur Beast, a French bulldog, has been elected mayor of Rabbit Hash, Ky., garnering 13,143 votes, the highest winning total ever for the position, according to the town's historical society. A total of 22,985 votes were cast. The town's population amounts to just a few hundred people, but no one seems concerned about the extra votes.
Surprisingly, he’s not the first canine to capture the community's top spot. Rabbit Hash has been electing mayor dogs as fundraisers since the 1990s. In recent years, the cash has been used to support the town's iconic general store, which dates back to the 19th Century. A fire destroyed it in 2016, but it has since been rebuilt with help from election proceeds.
Each year in the mayoral election, every dollar donated counts as a vote for the contributor's chosen candidate. Jack Rabbit, a beagle, and Poppy, a golden retriever, finished in the top three and will serve as Rabbit Hash ambassadors.
Amy Noland, Wilbur's human and spokesperson, encouraged his followers to reach out on social media where she said the mayor would be “all ears.”
PHOTO: Rabbit Hash Historical Society