A Vermont town will elect its first-ever dog mayor. Here are the candidates

Voting remains open through Friday, June 13.

Voting remains open through Friday, June 13.

TO OUR COMMITMENT NEWS NOW. IN ONE VERMONT TOWN.. VOTERS ARE TAKING A LOCAL ELECTION áVERY SERIOUSLY. CANDIDATES ARE GOING PAW-TO-PAW... IN THE RACE TO BECOME MIDDLEBURY'S áFIRST EVER DOG MAYOR. THIS WEEK... THEY ARE WORKING THEIR TAILS OFF TO áFETCH SUPPORTERS... AND RAISE CAMPAIGN FUNDS.. ALL OF WHICH WILL GO BACK TO SUPPORT THEIR CONSTITUENTS. NBC5'S YUNIER MARTINEZ HAS MORE ON HOW PUPS AND POLITICS ARE MIXING. FOUR NOMINEES ALL FOUR LEGGED FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER MIDDLEBURY IS ELECTING A DOG <NAT> THEY'VE GOT PAWS, PERSONALITY... AND NOW, POLITICAL POTENTIAL IN MIDDLEBURY FOUR CANINE CANDIDATES ARE MAKING HISTORY Hannah Manly, Director, Homeward Bound Addison County's Humane Society <"Here in Addison County. It is, to my knowledge, the first election for a dog mayor."> THE IDEA COMES FROM HOMEWARD BOUND, ADDISON COUNTY'S HUMANE SOCIETY... CELEBRATING ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY AND IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG FOR THE TOWN TO JUMP ON BOARD Hannah Manly, Director, Homeward Bound Addison County's Humane Society <"I reached out to the new town manager, Mark, and said, What do you think? And it was very quick, yes, from him and then followed by a very quick yes from the Selectboard."> JUST LIKE THAT, THE CAMPAIGN WAS ON FOUR FURRY FINALISTS WERE PICKED FROM A POOL OF COMMUNITY NOMINATIONS <NAT> MEET THE CANDIDATES Ed - A Barocco Italiano fighting for animal rights Tela - A golden retriever who wants to bring comfort year-round, especially during the colder months Reggie - An Australian Shepherd mix who's spreading awareness about spaying and neutering Nat - A retired service dog who's determined to raise funds for Homeward Bound EACH VOTE COSTS FIVE DOLLARS AS A DONATION AND YOU CAN VOTE AS MANY TIMES AS YOU WANT Hannah Manly, Director, Homeward Bound Addison County's Humane Society <"We like to say that in the general elections, out in the in the real world, you can't buy an election. But here for the dog mayor, money talks."> ONE NOMINEE... A HOMEWARD BOUND ALUM... ED IS ALREADY MAKING A NAME FOR HIMSELF David Bennett, Middlebury <"Ed would be a very good example of dogs that are from shelters. They're not necessarily neglected or broken. Sometimes their situations just change and they need a change in life."> The nominees all needed Middlebury residents. but the excitement for the idea is spreading around Addison County. Page Russell, Vergennes <"We all need smiles right now. And what better for smiles and dogs. The whole event just seems joyful to me."> VOTING'S STILL OPEN HEAD TO THE HOMEWARD WEBSITE TO CAST YOUR BALLOT JUST A $5 DONATION BUT DON'T WAIT POLLS CLOSE FRIDAY JUNE 13TH LIVE IN MIDDLEBURY YUNIER MARTINEZ <ANCHORS CHAT

Updated: 10:17 AM CDT Jun 6, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

A Vermont town will elect its first-ever dog mayor. Here are the candidates

Voting remains open through Friday, June 13.

Updated: 10:17 AM CDT Jun 6, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

It’s not just humans running for office anymore. A town in Vermont is going to the dogs — literally.For the first time in its history, Middlebury, Vermont, is electing a dog mayor.The quirky and heartwarming campaign is part of a creative fundraiser by Homeward Bound, Addison County's Humane Society, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary.“We like to say that in the general elections out in the real world, you can't buy an election,” said Hannah Maney, director of Homeward Bound. “But here, for the dog mayor, money talks.”The fundraiser allows voters to cast a ballot for their favorite canine candidate with a $5 donation, and they can vote as many times as they like.Proceeds go toward supporting shelter animals across the county.The town embraced the idea quickly. “I reached out to the new town manager, Mark, and said, ‘What do you think?’ And it was a very quick yes from him, followed by a very quick yes from the Selectboard,” Maney added.After a round of community nominations, four four-legged finalists were selected:Ed: a Barcco Italiano and Homeward Bound alum fighting for animal rightsTela: a Goldador advocating for community comfort, especially in the winter monthsReggie: an Australian shepherd mix promoting awareness for spaying and neuteringNat: a Yorkipoo and a retired service dog committed to raising funds for the shelter.“Ed is a great example of a shelter dog,” said David Bennett of Middlebury, Ed’s owner. “They’re not always neglected or broken; sometimes their situations change, and they need a change in life.”Though only dogs residing in Middlebury could run, support for the race has spread beyond town lines.“We all need smiles right now,” said Page Russell of Vergennes. “And what better for smiles than dogs? The whole event just seems joyful to me.”Voting remains open through Friday, June 13.To cast a ballot, visit the Homeward Bound website and donate $5 per vote.

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. —

It’s not just humans running for office anymore. A town in Vermont is going to the dogs — literally.

For the first time in its history, Middlebury, Vermont, is electing a dog mayor.

The quirky and heartwarming campaign is part of a creative fundraiser by , which is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

“We like to say that in the general elections out in the real world, you can't buy an election,” said Hannah Maney, director of Homeward Bound. “But here, for the dog mayor, money talks.”

The fundraiser allows voters to cast a ballot for their favorite canine candidate with a $5 donation, and they can vote as many times as they like.

Proceeds go toward supporting shelter animals across the county.

The town embraced the idea quickly. “I reached out to the new town manager, Mark, and said, ‘What do you think?’ And it was a very quick yes from him, followed by a very quick yes from the Selectboard,” Maney added.

After a round of community nominations, four four-legged finalists were selected:

Ed: a Barcco Italiano and Homeward Bound alum fighting for animal rights
Tela: a Goldador advocating for community comfort, especially in the winter months
Reggie: an Australian shepherd mix promoting awareness for spaying and neutering
Nat: a Yorkipoo and a retired service dog committed to raising funds for the shelter.

WPTZ

“Ed is a great example of a shelter dog,” said David Bennett of Middlebury, Ed’s owner. “They’re not always neglected or broken; sometimes their situations change, and they need a change in life.”

Though only dogs residing in Middlebury could run, support for the race has spread beyond town lines.

“We all need smiles right now,” said Page Russell of Vergennes. “And what better for smiles than dogs? The whole event just seems joyful to me.”

Voting remains open through Friday, June 13.

To cast a ballot, visit the Homeward Bound and donate $5 per vote.

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