GIANT ALASKAN MALAMUTE Bodhi, who is 8 years old and sports a fighting weight of 120 pounds, has retired from twin positions as sheriff of the Mendocino Dog Park and the adjacent Mrs. Noguchi’s Small Dog Park, in order to run for mayor of the coastal town of Mendocino.
Mrs. Noguchi’s Small Dog Park, dedicated in 2022, honors Sally Noguchi, who was interned during World War II; it is reserved for small dogs and those dogs too shy to thrive in the more boisterous space next door.
Bodhi’s campaign manager, Gwen Seymour, aka Bodhi’s human and Noguchi’s daughter, said that Bodhi retired from his sheriff’s role to clear the way for a mayoral run that also functions as a fundraiser for the dog parks and Community Center. In the spirit of “Delivering Pawsitive Change One Tail Wag at a Time,” the campaign emphasizes “adoption-first initiatives, shelter fundraisers, foster family recruitment, working with libraries, schools, and seniors, and promoting a dog culture that’s as fun as a squeaky toy and improves Mendocino’s barkonomic growth.”
Anticipating concerns that might be raised, Bodhi notes that, in dog years, he is old enough to be a candidate. He denies consuming kibble that comes from an out-of-state campaign donor.
Seymour said that Bodhi’s candidacy came as a surprise. Tom Walton, a frequent visitor to Mendocino from his home in Napa, and an admirer of Bodhi, had stickers printed up announcing the mayoral run. Walton and his wife Debby tracked down Seymour for a confab, and the three met for what Seymour describes as a “two and a half hour” campaign breakdown, during which Tom confessed that he, a cat person, doesn’t even like dogs but thought the mayor’s race could benefit from a touch of canine. Debby came up with the idea of using the campaign as a fundraiser for the two adjacent dog parks, which share the grounds of the Mendocino Community Center.
Never mind the obvious …
To naysayers (or those cold-water-pourers who point out that Mendocino does not have a mayor), Seymour says, “When times are hard like they are now, it’s nice to have a little levity and humor, even if it’s just temporary. It’s a distraction and gives us a little joy. Some people are detractors. They say the world is so hard. Well, that’s exactly why I want to bring this out.”
Bodhi’s future cabinet (every mayor must have a cabinet) includes the director of the Canine Intelligence Agency, head of waste management, a chief of protocol and others. One dog who got left out because his owner was in Hong Kong has now been named the ambassador to France “Wee-wee,” Seymour quipped.
Funds raised for Bodhi’s candidacy will be split between the two dog parks and the community center that allows its land to be used for the parks. Meanwhile, Seymour walks Bodhi five miles a day, so he has lots of opportunities to press the fur with his constituents, assuming the vote goes his way.
Bodhi has already gathered plenty of grassroots support in town. Bodhi for Mayor stickers are now visible on dozens of Mendocino stores, restaurants, and bulletin boards, and he maintains a growing social media presence on Facebook (Bodhi for Mayor) and Instagram. (@bodhiformayor) Expressions of support for the Bodhi for Mayor campaign can be made by donating to the Mendocino Dog Park.
This story originally appeared in The Mendocino Voice.