Four months after stuffies, dogs, and cats began announcing their candidacy for Pet Mayors of the Evergreen Arboretum and Gardens in Everett, three pet mayors were announced at the Autumn Fest on October 17.
Our League members were there to clap for the election winners and the success of this one-of-a-kind fundraiser that had generated $18,000 by inauguration day.
Every vote cast for a candidate came with a donation that benefited the Evergreen Arboretum and the Everett Animal Shelter, with all proceeds shared equally between the two organizations.
While families and their pets wandered the gardens before and after the mayors were officially honored, five League volunteers encouraged them to stop at our table to learn about the “real election” happening November 3.
More than 40 individuals took the time to learn about our candidate forums and our stance on charter amendments and state initiatives. After taking one of our free pocket Constitutions, a woman said to her partner as they walked away, “I’m going to read this!”
Several parents helped their children answer the question on our board: “Why do you vote?” After reading some of the responses others had written, a dad and his fourth-grade son came up with an answer together, which the young boy carefully wrote: “My voice is important!”
In a thank you message to our League volunteers, Eileen Simmons, Evergreen Arboretum and Gardens Board President, wrote, “Your presence provided a bit of gravitas to an otherwise fun and silly event by connecting everyone with the very real midterm elections just around the bend. I loved seeing kids writing messages on the post-it notes. I also appreciated getting the League's recommendations on all the county issues. Now onward to vote!”