Colorado city elects Hazel the cat as pet mayor

• Hazel was adopted from the Longmont Humane Society, demonstrating her deep ties to the Boulder County community.

Context: Louisville spokesperson Grace Johnson told Axios Boulder the idea of a pet mayor was first pitched to the Youth Advisory Board in 2023 to bring the community together for something "joyful and fun post-COVID and post-Marshall Fire."

• "The mission of this project is to spread a sense of community and 'pawsivity' by holding a fun election among the citizens of Louisville while educating youth on the power of voting and how their voice impacts issues that affect them and their communities," the city said in a press release.

What's next: Hazel will serve a two-year term, plenty of time to enact her plan to institute "mandatory daily nap time" under her purr-view.

Despite priding itself on being a pet-friendly city, Boulder's human mayor, Aaron Brocket, said he is unaware of any past pet mayors or any future plans to have one.

Yes, but: That doesn't mean we can't hold our own pet primary, though. Send us a picture of your pet and why they should be in charge.