Due to differences, political elections may be a tough conversation at the dinner table. Still, it’s definitely a must that we care about those individuals and groups that we elect into office. Just ask New York City’s canine residents—they’d agree wholeheartedly, especially with their new doggy mayor-elect, Simon, who was elected to lead the pack!
Simon, the Basset Cattle Dog, will be proclaimed as the new Honorary Dog Mayor of New York on Sunday, January 19th, in a ceremony hall outside the City Hall, and his person, Sophie Vershbow, will accompany him. While Simon is preparing to be a leader of the New York City dogs, he would probably reflect on his journey while running for the mayoral position; to say the least, it was rough.
Simon won in two unexpected circumstances; the first one was when he lost in the semi-final round to a Shih-tzu named Enzo. But all of a sudden, Enzo withdrew from the elections due to the overwhelming support that Bertie the Pomeranian got from the fans of a meme coin named after the dog who has a spitting image of Paddington the Bear.
The final round, which was originally scheduled the next day, was delayed for a week. It ended with Bernie giving up his spot and conceding to Simon. This was due to the sudden appearance of thousands of bots who voted for Bernie. So, his owner decided not to conduct a recount of the 22,000 votes that he received.
RELATED: Spending Christmas Alone? A Shelter Dog Could Be Your Companion
Who is The Dog Mayor Elect?
With everything that happened, on November 12, 2024, the dogs of New York City finally had their own mayor when Simon was announced to win. He was officially named as Dog Mayor-elect. On the other hand, Bertie was named as the Deputy Dog Mayor. However, nine days after the announcement, Bertie’s owner shared to his 394,000 Instagram followers on Instagram that the 11-year-old pomeranian unexpectedly died in his sleep.
Bertram was actually a rescue dog from Oklahoma who was adopted by his owner back in 2013. His owner shared online how Bertram helped her cope with crippling depression after losing her fiance and, a short time later, her mother.
The sudden news of Bertie’s death saddened many, and the post garnered 6,000 responses from those who offered their condolences. Vershbow also offered her condolences to Bertie in a comment, saying that Bertie and his campaign momager, Kathy, were loved in their community and represented the best of what their project can be and accomplish.
While it’s not clear who will take the Deputy Dog Mayor position, Vershbow said that Simon is very much ready to take on his role as the new doggy mayor. He will spend his term advocating for animal rescue. Simon was actually a rescue dog himself from Dallas. Simon was later on taken by the Hearts and Bones which was a New York-based group. Later on, he met Vershbow, who fostered him since it was love at first sight that led them together.
What is The Honorary Dog Mayor of New York City?
Who knew you could elect doggy mayors, right? Well, The Honorary Dog Mayor of New York City was actually inspired by the same honorary mayor dog elections from Littleton, Colorado. The New York City one was founded by Stephen Calabria, who was a professional media producer and dog lover.
It was created for fun at a time when many people were struggling. It aims to develop the New York City communities and present politics in a positive, educational, and compelling way. No matter how politics can be a drag for others, it’s an opportunity to improve our country.
RELATED: How a Rescue Dog’s Affectionate Nature Won Him a Second Chance
From The Club
Simon winning the mayoral race proves that what’s meant for you will always make its way to you. It’s nice that New York City has these kinds of activities and communities that promote the welfare of animals and, at the same time, present politics to children and other people. I’m happy that Simon chose to advocate for animal rescue, a cause that’s close to my heart. Hopefully, Simon can help these pets with their daily needs at the shelter and help them find a new home and a loving family.