Innovative approach to improving voter turnout
Gus ran a great campaign and got to be the honorary Dog Mayor in Kitimat for the next four years.
The Dog Mayor Campaign was the brainchild of Kitimat council which aimed to encourage youth engagement and promote greater turnout.
It succeeded in being an innovative approach: Turnout for residents in this election was at 33 percent, compared to only 22 percent of eligible voters in 2022.
CBC reports that “Both canines have been campaigning diligently by visiting local classrooms, and even marching in the Canada Day parade on July 1.”
The Australian labradoodle Gus scored 560 votes, versus the golden doodle Koko with 435.
Gus campaigned on more fire hydrants “for obvious reasons” and improved poop bag access in local parks. Koko promised pet-friendly emergency sirens and “dog days” at the local pool.
So there are lessons here for municipalities on the South Island where our furry friends are everywhere. Residential voter turnout in this election improved, but it’s still well below that in provincial and federal elections.
By the way, proving they are true politicians, both canines also campaigned on a promise of lower taxes.
https://localelections.ca/election_results/56_2026_results.html
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/kitimat-dog-mayor-race-9.7382752
https://www.kitimat.ca/municipal-office/dog-mayor
https://www.capitaldaily.ca/news/more-voters-turn-out-for-civic-vote-but-numbers-still-below-50?utm_source=CapitalDaily&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=oct-20-more-voters-for-civic-election&_bhlid=8c27d44df40df75a267ec7a8de7eab87e190fab4