Talkeetna's feline mayor contemplates retirement

MNN ^ | Jun 10, 2014 | Laura Moss

[Slings and Arrows]

I recently snuggled with the mayor of Talkeetna, Alaska.

 

He was friendly and quite diplomatic, making sure to give everyone who'd traveled to see him an equal amount of attention.

 

In return, we all gave Stubbs, a 17-year-old cat, a few scratches behind the ears. We could be some of the last Talkeetna tourists to do so.

 

The mayoral Manx has served Talkeetna, which is home to fewer than 900 people, since July 18, 1997 when he was still just a kitten.

 

It’s rumored that Stubbs was elected mayor following a write-in campaign by voters who opposed the human candidates. However, Talkeetna has no actual mayor and no election — the town is run by a community council.

 

Stubbs conducts his unofficial mayoral business from Nagley's General Store, where he can often be found sleeping in a basket or sipping his favorite cocktail: water with a catnip garnish.

 

On the day we met, Stubbs was doing the rounds in and around the store, greeting his constituents, as well as tourists who were in town for Memorial Day weekend.

 

Eventually, he curled up beneath a picnic table for a nap.

 

Having recently turned 85 in cat years, Stubbs may soon retire from life in the political spotlight.

 

His owner, Lauri Stec, says she may move Stubbs into her house to take a break from the deluge of visitors who flock to the store each summer to see him.

 

She says Stubbs will likely hate being stuck at the house, but she's concerned about his health — and his penchant for trouble.

 

"He's definitely used up 100 lives," she recently told the Alaska Dispatch.

 

In August, Stubbs was mauled by a dog, an attack that left him with a punctured lung, crushed sternum, bruised hips and a deep gash.

 

He was rushed to a veterinary clinic in Wasilla, Alaska, and eventually made a full recovery.

 

In addition to surviving the assassination attempt, Stubbs has also lived through being shot with a BB gun and falling into a cold fryer at the café attached to Nagley's General Store.

 

If Stubbs leaves the store this summer, his fans — who hail from regions far outside his constituency, from the likes of Turkey, Australia and China — will still be able to keep up with his adventures on Facebook.

[Slings and Arrows]

[Slings and Arrows]

I hope he runs for higher office.

[Dr. Sivana]

I hope he runs for higher office.

Well, he's old enough in cat years, and born in the U.S., but if he picks Palin as his running mate, they lose Alaska's electoral votes. I suspect Palin's a dog person anyway.

[Squawk 8888]

If he were mayor of Toronto there would be a catnip scandal.

[Gefn]

if Sarah Palin decides to run in 16, he could be her running mate! :)

Campaign motto: get the rats out of Washington!

Don’t forget Hank the cat who ran for VA Senate in 12

[fatnotlazy]

Stubbs shows more leadership than the present occupant of the White House.

[CatherineofAragon]

"I hope he runs for higher office."

Stubbs has that no-nonsense, don't give me any crap look....sort of like Reagan or Allen West.

He'd be a big improvement on the current bat-eared ballerina.

[Hot Tabasco]

Mr. Stubbs is in his twilight years, I hope that when he passes the gate, he does so peacefully and painlessly....as I wish for everyone’s beloved pet.

[CatherineofAragon]

I’ll 2nd that.

[Slings and Arrows]

Hank did better than Eric Cantor.

[Slings and Arrows]

True, though that may be damning with faint praise.

[Gefn]

And he was so adorable in his little tie too. Hank, that is. Not Mr. Cantor.

[lostboy61]

Had the great privilege of having a word and a few minutes with Mayor Stubbs in Talkeetna Alaska. I found him to be a great leader and listener. And he was right that the cafe had great coffee and wonderful sweet rolls.

[CatherineofAragon]

LOL, that must have been a great experience. I’d love to meet Stubbs.

[Gefn]

I’ve never been jealous of a FReeper before, but I do admit being a bit jealous that you met Mayor Stubbs.

But I’m glad you did. I hope you gave him a scritch behind the ears too.

[Slings and Arrows]

Cantor has been called many things, but “adorable” is not one of them.

[Slings and Arrows]

I thought the ballerina was mayor of Chicago.

[Gefn]

I didn’t say Cantor was adorable. I said Hank the cat is.
Sorry for any confusion.

[Slings and Arrows]

Understood - I was agreeing with you.

[lostboy61]

In my years of being a general contractor I have meet a number of counter cats and shop cats. Some in plumbing supply others in lumber yard offices. I always stop and have a few words with them as they know what is really going on. A scratch and pat, a little egg from my breakfast and I add another good friend.