RABBIT HASH, Ky. — A small community in northern Kentucky inaugurated its new four-legged mayor.
On Sunday Jan. 12, 2025, Rabbit Hash swore in Mayor Boone, a bluetick coonhound.
Like many hounds, Boone is a talker.
“He does like to make his presence known,” said Dave Landwehr, Boone’s owner.
Mayor Boone was sworn in over a box of Milk Bones. He won the election by a landslide with a record number of votes.
“His slogan was stop down at noon and have a drink with Boone, which, a lot of people did and made votes,” Landwehr said.
The one-year-old bluetick coonhound is hoping to make a difference in the small waterfront community.
“He did some riverbank protection with equipment, and that alone brought in $9,000 for his campaign, which really put him over the edge,” his owner said.
It cost a dollar for each vote in the mayoral election. The money goes to the Rabbit Hash Historical Society which owns and is preserving the area.
“We have this old wooden town, we’re right on the banks of the Ohio, so we’re constantly threatened by, you know, flood or fire, termites, you know, everything that threatens a wooden building,” said Callie Clare, president of the Rabbit Hash Historical Society.
The historical society has been around for approximately 40 years and is hoping to keep its 3.5 acres as original as possible.
“Been a just a massive undertaking to keep things the way it always was and to preserve it and hopefully it won’t turn into a concrete jungle someday,” said State Senator Steve Rawlings, R-Burlington.
For now, the area lies in the hands of Mayor Boone, who is hoping to do more charity work and maybe become a therapy dog.
“Coonhounds can be a little stubborn, but he is a good dog, and a stubborn mayor can be good,” Landwehr said.
Boone is the community’s sixth four-legged mayor. He succeeds Mayor Wilbur, who was elected in 2020.
This year’s race generated over $26,000 for the Rabbit Hash Historical Society.
Rabbit has elected four-legged mayors since 1998.
