Once Bitten

Citizens ask me every day why the Idyll-Beast is not campaigning in Idyllwild’s Mayoral Contest. Certainly he agrees that raising money for ARF and Living Free is a worthy cause: any dollars he finds, he stuffs in one of those jars.  And his success in the 2011 Chamber of Commerce Board elections would seem to put him in a position to seek higher office.

Although we have heard rumors of a write in campaign on his behalf,  the Idyll-Beast has held firm in his decision not to run. “If nominated I will not run, if elected I will not serve. If served, I will not be delicious.”  The animal goes on with some advice for the candidates: “The election is fun, lots of snacks and grooming. And photo ops. But after the election it’s a different story. You may be all day in the office and forget to eat. Your hair may begin to fall out in clumps. The press may misquote you or associate you with some scandal or another.”

The Idyll-Beast did offer some reassurance and an offer of cooperation and moral support to the future mayor. “Former Chamber Directors tell me that the memories become fonder with the passing years, and dog or cat years do pass more quickly than Beast years. If you need some one to scratch behind your ears and tell you you’re a “good dog” I’ll be there. And remember to delegate: you don’t need to lift your leg on every fire hydrant in town, that’s what committees are for.”

So it would seem that although even the most introspective and elusive animals may “catch” the political bug, the Idyll-Beast is once bitten, twice shy.