Meet Mayor Stubbs of Talkeetna, Alaska. He’s a Cat.

This July, the town of Talkeetna, Alaska, celebrated their mayor’s 15th year in position. This is particularly remarkable because the mayor of Talkeetna, a tourist town of approximately 800 residents, is a cat. Known as “Mayor Stubbs,” the part-Manx feline was sworn in shortly after he was born. Controversy over mayoral candidates had birthed a movement to have Stubbs written in as a mayoral contender and, sure enough, he was elected. Turns out Stubbs is a mayor the town can get behind, not only uniting the people of Talkeetna but becoming a tourist draw the tiny mountain town thrives on. Stubbs spends the majority of his days at Nagley’s, a general store located in Talkeetna, where 30 to 40 tourists visit him daily. He was recently featured in Alaska Magazine and receives letters and cards addressed to him each day at the general store. Against all odds (and then some), Stubbs has found long term success in office by continuing to be the amusing cat the people can count on.