MENDOCINO, CA., 7/29/2026 — Bodhi, a 120-pound Giant Alaskan Malamute and the mayor-elect of Mendocino, was officially sworn into office by Superior Court Judge Patrick Pekin on Sunday, July 19 at 1:08 p.m. The event at the Mendocino Dog Park was capped off by pie-eating, tail-wagging and the occasional bark. One source said the crowd exceeded anything ever seen on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
The ceremony was the culmination of five months of work that began with a bit of guerrilla theater involving a small dog sticker that ended up touching the lives of thousands and capturing the imagination of a town and its visitors, something noted by multiple media outlets, including this one.
Bodhi’s election campaign was a fundraiser for the Mendocino Dog Park with every $1 donated equaling one vote. When the 2,500 threshold was broken on July 5, Bodhi declared victory.
In the spirit of delivering “Pawsitive Change One Tail Wag at a Time,” the candidate ran on a platform advocating for adoption-first initiatives, shelter fundraisers, foster family recruitment, working with libraries, schools, and seniors, and promoting dog culture.
As an onlooker noted, “If you’re making your dog’s life fun, your own life can’t help but improve.”
Since 2021, the Mendocino Dog Park has been welcoming locals and visitors to enjoy two fenced play areas, one for large dogs and one for small or shy pups. Both foster free-play and socialization opportunities for dogs and humans. Bodhi’s haul will be used to buy special bark to improve the play areas in both fenced zones. The park is located at 998 School Street on the grounds of the Community Center of Mendocino.