Mayor Max has a high approval rating.
Phyllis Mueller is a dedicated pet parent with a one-of-a-kind profession. Mueller is the chief of staff for the mayor of Idyllwild, California, and the mayor is her golden retriever, Max, who is eight years old.
Yes, Mayor Max has been the mayor of Idyllwild for virtually his whole life. Mayor Max’s full name is Maximus the Mighty Dog Mueller II, and he has been mayor since he was a puppy of 11 weeks old.
Mueller told Daily Paws, “He’s been the mayor his whole life.” “When he’s out in public, he knows what to do. He adores people, he adores posing for photos, and he adores his work.”
Idyllwild is a small mountain hamlet outside of Palm Springs where a local animal rescue group mounted a campaign to win the area’s first mayor. The only snag? Humans could not run, but residents might nominate their dogs.
Maximus the Mighty Dog Mueller, Mueller’s former golden retriever, won the first election and served as dog mayor until he died halfway through his second term. Because of Max’s immense popularity in the neighborhood, Mueller searched for another retriever from Max I’s family to fill in for him, which is how she came across Mayor Max II.
Deputy Mayor Mitzi and Deputy Mayor Mikey, all relatives of the previous Max, accompanied the new Mayor Max. The three puppies assisted in the completion of Mayor Max’s first term in office. During the third election, they were elected for life. The county of Riverside has now formally recognized Max as the mayor.
Mueller and her canine mayor and his deputies spend their days greeting locals and tourists, visiting homes, hospitals, and hospice groups, and performing as many good deeds as they can for the town of Idyllwild. Mayor Max’s administration, according to Mueller, is non-partisan and non-political, and he has a high approval rating.
“We only do things for individuals that are kind and caring,” Mueller explains. “[Mayor Max] has no idea what it means to be a Republican or a Democrat, but he knows how to love you wholeheartedly.”