The Cat Mayor

Talkeetna, Alaska, a little over 2 hours from Anchorage, sits between three rivers: the Susitna, Chulitna, and Talkeetna. The tiny town was established 1918 and in 2010 its population stood at 876. Its a rough place to live, with not much to do. The only industries in town are flightseeing, camping, fishing and hunting.


Fifteen years ago, the town was holding its elections for mayor. The citizens of Talkeetna were unhappy with all the candidates and were unsure and unwilling to vote for anyone. Then an idea popped into their heads.

Mayor Stubbs Facebook photo

They decided to write-in a candidate. They chose a new-born cat with no tail. 


The cat won by a landslide.


Today, newly re-elected, Mayor Stubbs has been a boon for the tiny town. In the nearly two decades since his election, tourism has boomed. Papers routinely write about the mayor and the town has no plans to replace him.