Farewell to Stubbs: Alaska's Feline Mayor Passes Away

A few weeks ago, we reported under the 'Surprising Facts' column that a cat named Stubbs was serving as the mayor of Talkeetna, a town with 900 residents in Alaska.

Well, that information is no longer current: the ginger cat passed away last weekend, and the position is now open.

"He was a brave soldier until his last day," wrote the family who raised Stubbs. "Thank you for everything, Stubbs. You are an extraordinary cat, and we will miss you greatly."

The legend loved by tourists tells that Stubbs was elected mayor in 1998. That year, the townspeople were dissatisfied with all the human candidates and decided to use a write-in option. In protest, they wrote in the name of a well-known local cat, Stubbs. In truth, a 'mayor' position never existed in Talkeetna since it's designated as a 'historical district.' Stubbs belonged to the family that owned the local general store. The idea of appointing him as an honorary mayor was intended to attract tourists.

Over the many years he held the role, Stubbs became dearly loved by both locals and tourists. In a 2013 Wall Street Journal profile, local resident Leah Vanden Bush said, "We don't know what we'd do without him." Another citizen, Peg Vos, noted a standout quality of the feline mayor: "He never voted for something I was against."

Earlier this year, however, Stubbs was attacked by a local dog and needed surgery. He recovered quickly and returned to his duties, which mainly included strolling around town, sipping from glasses of champagne, and ample napping, but he passed away last week in his sleep.

The honorary mayor position, however, isn't expected to remain vacant for long. After the mourning period for Stubbs, CNN reports that another cat named Denali, who was raised by the same family that cared for Stubbs, is expected to be appointed.