Mayor Stubbs. The goat mayor and the cat ahead of Navalny. How animals hold public office. "Budget freeloader" from Yekaterinburg conquers the Legislative Assembly

In the United States, at the age of 20, a ginger cat named Stubbs, known for being the honorary mayor of Talkeetna, Alaska, has died at the age of 20. “Stubbs lived 20 years and three months. He was a fighter before last day his life, meowing all day, asking for attention or demanding to sit next to him on the bed and let him get comfortable, rumbling for hours on his knees, ”said his owners.

The owners already have a new candidate for mayor - a kitten named Denali (he was named after a mountain in south-central Alaska, the highest peak in North America): "Denali is remarkably similar in character to Stubbs," the family of the owners of the cat-mayor says. He loves attention and acts like a little puppy around people. We could not have dreamed of a better deputy than Denali - he really always followed in the footsteps of Stubbs in everything.

There is no human mayor in the city of Talkeetna - however, this is not exactly a city, but a historical area, where, according to 2010 data, 876 people lived.

For tourists, this is a stopover point on the way to Mount McKinley, where for the past 20 years, one of the attractions has been the red cat mayor, whose office was Nagley's Store grocery store.

It is believed that the cat - discovered by store manager Laurie Stack in the parking lot in a box with other kittens - was elected to the post of mayor in 1998, the year after his birth, as a result of the election campaign, during which he beat all human candidates. However, there is another opinion: in 2012, when the 15th anniversary of the cat mayor was celebrated, Rene Montagne, an NPR radio host, said on the air that there were no elections in the tiny town, which means that there can be no mayor.

However, no one hid that Stubbs is a rather decorative figure: “Since Talkeetna is a “historical area”, the post of mayor has more symbolic meaning than functional,” Andy Manning, president of the Talkeetna Chamber of Commerce, said in 2012. For local residents, the cat was a universal favorite, and for tourists - an occasion to stay in locality ruled by a cat who visits a restaurant every afternoon to drink water with catnip from a wine glass. Several dozen travelers come here every day - the town, which grew out of a railway station founded in 1916, receives a significant part of its income from tourists. People come here, at the junction of the Susitna, Chulitna and Talkeetna rivers, to go in for rafting, mountain biking, fishing, hunting and hiking in the surrounding mountains.

The mayor, however, was respected in the city for his strong character and ability to stand his ground.

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“All day long I have to deal with the mayor. He is very demanding, ”Sky Farrar, an employee of the Nagley's store, told CNN in 2012. “He meows, meows, meows, demanding to be picked up and put at the checkout. Or demands that he be spared the attention of tourists. And in the afternoon he had an obligatory afternoon nap." He slept anywhere, leaving hair everywhere. But the residents of the city put up with this - not every locality comes to interview for CNN about the 15th anniversary of the cat-mayor, who is constantly in office. "When the building was on fire in 2002, he was the last to leave,” Todd Basilone, owner of Mountain High Pizza Pie in Talkeetna, told CNN in 2012. “Stubbs cares about every place in town.”

Until 2013, residents of the town claimed that, although there are more dogs than cats in their village, Stubbs gets along great with them. However, on August 31, 2013, the cat survived the attack by the dog, receiving serious wounds on the side and in the chest area. All over the world, the residents of the town announced a fundraiser to pay bills at the veterinary clinic, and the remaining money went to the local animal shelter. After nine days in the hospital, the cat returned to his office in the Nagley's store. Other adventures of the mayor include an armed attack by children with an air gun, a fall into a restaurant fryer (which was turned off at that time) and a trip out of town on a garbage truck.

Stubbs, the honorary mayor of Talkeetna, Alaska, a favorite with locals and tourists, has died at the age of 20. According to the owners of the cat, he died on July 21 unexpectedly for everyone, simply without waking up.

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Stubbs became honorary mayor of Talkeetna, a city of 900 people, in 1997 because residents were unhappy with other candidates. He was later re-elected to this post. Stubbs was mayor for 20 years. Talkeetna is a historical district, and the mayor here has more symbolic significance than functional.

In 2013, Stubbs survived a dog attack. But even a punctured lung, cracks in the sternum and deep lacerations could not keep him from his duties as mayor - Stubbs recovered from the attack.

The cat lived with the Spon family, who owned a shop in Talkeetna. The store was the "office" of the mayor, where he spent most of his time and went there daily for the traditional glass of water with catnip. Stubbs became a favorite with locals and tourists who stopped by the city to see the famous mayor cat.

But in 2016, the cat increasingly stayed at home and rarely came to his “office”. In 2017, he attended a couple of TV shows and "gave a few interviews", but according to the hosts, he didn't really like the cameras and the large number of people.

"He was a fighter until the very last day of his life," Stubbs' owners said. "You are a wonderful cat and we will miss you very much."

Previously, the Spon family had two kittens, Aurora and Denali, with whom Stubbs spent a lot of time. One of the kittens will take over as mayor. "It's amazing that Denali has the same personality as Stubbs," the Spon family says of their kitten.

The French Minister for European Affairs, Nathalie Loiseau, made a figurative and at the same time tough statement addressed to the UK. Loiseau compared London's behavior to her cat's quirks. According to the French diplomat, every morning she is awakened by “meowing to hoarseness” - the animal asks to be released. When Natalie opens the door, the cat freezes in indecision.

“He stares at me intently when I put him out the door,” the minister said.

According to Loiseau, the British deserve the same treatment: they too should be put out the door. She supported the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Theresa May. Like, “no deal is sometimes better than a bad deal.”

The cat destined to become Brexit is far from the first prominent figure in world politics.

FAN thanks Natalie Loizeau for the opportunity to remember her pet's famous predecessors.

Stubbs, Mayor of Talkeetna, Alaska

In 1997, another mayoral election was held in Talkeetna, Alaska. Local residents were not enthusiastic about the candidates who applied for a high post. A girl named Laurie Stack, who worked as a store manager at Nagley's General Store, nominated Stubbs the cat. She found him shortly before the election in a box with other kittens. Stubbs did not have a tail, the owners abandoned it.

In the elections, an unusual candidate expected a crushing success: all 900 voters voted for the kitten. Like many politicians of the first magnitude, Stubbs survived the assassination attempt in his lifetime. In 2012, during a traditional night walk, the mayor was attacked by a dog. The victim was taken to the hospital with multiple injuries.

A year later, Stubbs again won the election by a landslide and retained his post until his death at the age of 21 in July 2017.

It should be noted that the competence of the legendary mayor of Alaska is not recognized by everyone. In particular, in 2013, experts from the Alaska Dispatch newspaper called Stubbs' victory in the election a fraud. The very right of the people of Talkeetna to elect a mayor was also called into question, since this area does not have the rights of a municipality.

However, it would be unfair to call Stubbs a "wedding general". Unusual mayor interested tourists. Things went uphill, so that the locals had no reason to regret their choice.

"Budget freeloader" from Yekaterinburg conquers the Legislative Assembly

Stubbs' success inspired Ivan Kolotovkin, a resident of Yekaterinburg. His pet, Bublik, also tried himself in big politics. April 25, 2012 Bublik, accompanied by the owner, went to the building of the Legislative Assembly Sverdlovsk region. And he left there not with empty paws: Georgy Persky solemnly handed him the diploma of the people's choice.

The tailed guest was also offered a free tour.

“I signed and handed him a red diploma of a people’s deputy (there are specialties to choose from: people’s demigod, budget freeloader, noodle-promiser, people’s choice),” Persky said.

The politician recalls that Bublik especially liked the chair of the deputy. Alas, his political career has not been further developed.

Freddie, "mayor" of Sharon, Wisconsin

Homeless cat Freddie led the most ascetic life near the city hall of Sharon, Wisconsin, USA. Once he was noticed and fed by the local treasurer. The cat fell in love with local officials, and soon became "their own man" in government offices. Over time, Freddie received the title of "mayor of respect."

However, this position is purely symbolic. According to the law, the city is governed by the president, who must certainly be a man. Another bureaucratic delay: residents must vote for him. Therefore, Freddie is content with the role of the mayor in quotation marks. Americans judge fairly: what kind of mayor is this if no one elected him? This is not some kind of "interim president" of Venezuela?

Naughty cat Leopold

The presidential race in Ukraine in 2004 turned out to be extremely tense. Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych and his namesake Yushchenko were the main contenders for the post of head of state.

Yanukovych urged his opponent to open debate. According to Viktor Fedorovich, Viktor Andreevich avoided dialogue.

“I will negotiate with them on your behalf. And today I call for negotiations, just as in the debate, this mischievous cat Leopold - Yushchenko. And after that I will come to meet you,” Yanukovych promised, speaking at the capital's railway station.

Meanwhile, the cartoon cat Leopold was distinguished by the most righteous life. His call for friendship has firmly entered the lexicon of Soviet and post-Soviet people.

Victor Fedorovich clearly missed the mark. However, the main mistakes of the fourth president of Ukraine were yet to come...

A 20-year-old mayor of the city of Talkeetna named Stubbs. He has served as mayor since 1998. Also, Stubbs was a cat. The Insider is about an unusual mayor and other animals holding public office.

Stubbs the cat, former mayor of a city in Alaska

The future mayor was found in a city parking lot in a box with other kittens in 1997. His owner, Laurie Stack, chose Stubbs because he didn't have a tail. In the same year, there was an election in Talkeetna, a town of 900 inhabitants, and people were unhappy with the candidates. Lori jokingly suggested her cat as a candidate - and the residents unexpectedly chose him. So Stubbs became mayor of Talkeetna. In 2012, the cat was re-elected to this post.

Stubbs City Hall was located at Nagley's General Store, the store where Laurie Stack worked as a manager. It was reported that every day the mayor drank a glass of water with catnip.

But 20 years of public service did not pass carefree. For example, in 2013, an attempt was made on the mayor's cat. As a result of the dog attack, Stubbs suffered many serious injuries. And one day, tired of the burden of power, the cat tried to escape from the city on a garbage truck.

Stubbs had his own Facebook and Twitter pages. After his death, several farewell tweets appeared with the hashtag #RIPStubbs:

Translation: “Good news: I am in paradise. Bad news: ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN.

Goat Clay Henry III, Mayor of Texas

Clay Henry III did not have to participate in the election race and bother with campaigning. He was born into a family of hereditary mayors. The Goat Dynasty has ruled Lajitas, Texas since 1986.

Lajitas is known for producing beer, and it was for the love of this drink that Clay Henry Sr. was elected mayor - he could outdrink anyone. His grandson is also not far behind.

In 2002, due to his love of alcohol, Clay Henry III became involved in a criminal history. Local Bob Hardgrove castrated the mayor for drinking his beer. Despite the fact that the police found the goat's penis in Hardgrove's refrigerator, the criminal case did not progress.

Dog Power in Kentucky

The tiny town of Rabbit-Hash in the US state of Kentucky, by law, cannot have its own self-government, administration and authorities. But in 1998, the local Historical Society organized a mayoral election. Since then, this post has never been held by a person.

The outbred dog Goofy Borneman was elected the first mayor of the city, and in 2004 Rabbit Hash was headed by Junior Cochran, a labrador retriever.

On November 4, 2008, a "woman mayor" appeared in the city. Border Collie Lucy Lou wins election under slogan "That bitch won't let you down" and took office on the same day as Barack Obama, who had just become president. In 2016, it was even reported about the possible participation of Lucy in the presidential election.

Since 2017, Rabbit Hash has been run by American Pit Bull Terrier Brynnet "Brynn" Poltro. During the election race, he beat out two other canine candidates. To prove his professional worth, Brinn had to chase the rabbit from his house to the center of Rabbit Hash for an hour.

Cat Palmerston, employeeBritish Foreign Office

Cat Palmerston does not govern the city, but his contribution to the work of the British government is difficult to overestimate. In 2016, he was accepted to the post of chief mouser of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The cat was probably named after Lord Palmerston, former Prime Minister of Great Britain and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom.

At the age of two, the cat was found on the street and sent to an animal shelter, from where he moved to the ministry. The characteristic that Palmerston received from the orphanage was "confident and philanthropic."

By the way, in the residence of the former British Prime Minister David Cameron, the cat Larry worked as a mouser, and in the treasury this work is done by the cat Freya.

Cat Barsik, Putin's competitor

In December 2016, on Barsik's page in