By Tove Tupper
 
October 29, 2008
 
JACKSONVILLE, Ore. -- An unlikely competition is surfacing in the race for Jacksonville Mayor.
 
Up until recently, Jacksonville City Council President Bruce Garrett was running for mayor unopposed. However, when a Jacksonville voter heard that, she decided to give her fellow citizens another choice.
 
Ellee Celler is running her six-year-old dog Maximilian as a write in candidate for the position. Celler points out that Maximilian has overcome quite a bit in his short life, after losing his paw when he was only a puppy. Celler says Maximilian's campaign is making a statement that politics has become too serious, and people need to lighten up.
 
"If he were to win, which is highly unlikely, we're thinking about having him decline, and request an ambassador of goodwill position instead. I think he'd do better as ambassador of goodwill," says Celler.
 
Oregon Secretary of State's Office says there is no specific Oregon rule that says humans can only be candidates.
 
If votes for a write-in candidate equal or exceed the number of votes for a candidate, then the election center will count each write-in vote.
 
Maximilian does have a campaign manager who has created signs and slogans. They include "growls softly and carries a long leash", and "no trees left behind".