Mayor Max II
{{short description|Mayor of Idyllwild–Pine Cove, California}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Mayor Max II
| image = Max II with medal, 11.24.13.jpg
| caption = Mayor Max II in his visiting truck, November 24, 2013
| office = Mayor-for-life of Idyllwild
| term_start = July 21, 2013
| term_end = July 30, 2022
| predecessor = Max I
| successor = Max III
| deputy = Mikey Mighty-Dog Mueller
Mitzi Marie Mueller{{Cite web |last=Jacobo |first=Julia |date=May 30, 2019 |title=Golden retriever named Mueller is mayor of Southern California town |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/golden-retriever-named-mueller-mayor-southern-california-town/story?id=63371017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405154954/https://abcnews.go.com/US/golden-retriever-named-mueller-mayor-southern-california-town/story?id=63371017 |archive-date=April 5, 2022 |access-date=2021-04-10 |website=ABC News |publisher=ABC News Internet Ventures |language=en}}
| birth_name = Maximus Mighty-Dog Mueller
| birth_date = {{birth date|2013|05|06}}
| birth_place =
| death_date = {{death date and age|2022|07|30|2013|05|06}}
| death_place = Temecula, California
| module =
| blank1 = Species
| data1 = Dog
| blank2 = Breed
| data2 = Golden Retriever
| blank3 = Sex
| data3 = Male
}}
Maximus Mighty-Dog Mueller II (May 6, 2013 – July 30, 2022) was a golden retriever dog who served as the second unofficial mayor of Idyllwild, part of the census-designated place of Idyllwild–Pine Cove, California. His deputy mayors, Mitzi and Mikey, were his cousins.{{Cite web |last=Jacobo |first=Julia |date=May 30, 2019 |title=Golden retriever named Mueller is the mayor of Southern California town |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/golden-retriever-named-mueller-mayor-southern-california-town/story?id=63371017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405154954/https://abcnews.go.com/US/golden-retriever-named-mueller-mayor-southern-california-town/story?id=63371017 |archive-date=April 5, 2022 |access-date=2021-04-10 |website=ABC News |publisher=ABC News Internet Ventures |language=en}} After his death Mayor Max II was succeeded by his cousin Max III, who was sworn in on December 10, 2022.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2023/09/29/dog-max-mayor-idyllwild-california/ |title=A dog is 'mayor' in this town. 'I didn't take it as a joke,' says owner. |first=Sydney |last=Page |quote=There’s been nepotism and vote buying in the town of Idyllwild, California |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=September 29, 2023 |access-date=September 30, 2023}}
Mayorality
In 2012, the non-profit organization Idyllwild Animal Rescue Friends (ARF) hosted an "election" for mayor of Idyllwild (which, as part of an unincorporated community, has no local government) as part of a fundraising event for the organization. Fourteen dogs and two cats ran, and Max, a Golden Retriever, was elected as Idyllwild's first mayor. On April 2, 2013, Mayor Max died, and Maximus Mighty-Dog Mueller II, another Golden Retriever, arrived in Idyllwild on July 21 to complete the remainder of the term.{{Cite web |title=Mayor Max of Idyllwild, California |url=https://www.mayormax.com/ |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=www.mayormax.com}} In March 2014, as the end of Max's term approached, ARF solicited the town's interest in holding another election. The people overwhelmingly pled for Mayor Max's continuation in perpetuity.[http://www.mayormax.com "Office of the Mayor of Idyllwild"]. (Retrieved January 24, 2021)
Mayor Max was recognized by the County of Riverside, California.{{Citation|title=Riverside County Supervisor Chuck Washington and Mayor Max| date=November 24, 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeCcW6tEI3s|language=en|access-date=2021-04-10}} The Mayor's duties included visiting with locals and out-of-town visitors, attending business grand openings and other town functions, participating in the town's two annual parades, and promoting Idyllwild.{{Cite web |date=2021-05-10 |title=Mayor Max 2 - Learn the amazing story of how a dog became the mayor of a Californian town - |url=https://moonjis.com/mayor-max-2-learn-the-amazing-story-of-how-a-dog/ |access-date=2022-11-19 |language=en-US |archive-date=November 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221119063842/https://moonjis.com/mayor-max-2-learn-the-amazing-story-of-how-a-dog/ |url-status=dead }} Max's popularity had spread the world over, and he has represented the town through appearances on news programs, talk shows, advertisements, billboards, and a game show.{{Cite web|title=An Interview with Idyllwild's Mayor Max|url=http://digital.petcompanionmag.com/publication/?i=651393&article_id=3611026&view=articleBrowser&ver=html5|access-date=2021-08-21}}
Death
Mayor Max died in the city of Temecula on July 30, 2022, after suffering a brief medical issue.[http://www.mayormax.com "Office of the Mayor of Idyllwild"]. (Retrieved August 3, 2022) He was succeeded by Mayor Max III, who formally took office on December 10, 2022.[http://www.mayormax.com/index.htm "Office of the Mayor of Idyllwild"]. (Retrieved March 11, 2023){{Cite news |last=Madden |first=Emma |date=2023-09-24 |title='He ate three of his ties in a month': California's dog mayor celebrates a year in office |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/sep/24/mayor-max-idyllwild-dog-golden-retriever |access-date=2023-09-27 |issn=0261-3077}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://mayormax.com/ Mayor Max, Mayor of Idyllwild, California - Official website]
Category:Individual dogs in politics