Dog denied chance to run for mayor

By JENNY YUEN, Toronto Sun

BOWMANVILLE — A dog just can't win in a human world.

Genny, the three-year black Lab, was denied her papers to run for Clarington mayor Monday morning after a municipal clerk said she didn't qualify for the position because of canine genes.

"Her nomination was rejected even before we could sign the papers," said Genny's owner Marven Whidden. "We're disappointed but not surprised. Genny has more support in this town than any candidate running."

But the ambitious pooch isn't about to play dead as of yet. Whidden is hoping residents petition town hall for her candidacy or perhaps a law student could take up the cause and challenge the qualifications required for nomination.

"It has to be a person to be qualified to run in the election," said Patti Barrie, chief marketing officer of the municipal clerk's office. "She's not a person, she's a dog."

Whidden began a campaign several weeks ago on his blog that stated if he had 100 supporters for Genny, he would file papers on her behalf to run in Ward 3. He received so many responses from residents in other wards that he decided mayor was the way to go.

The main message, he said, is people are fed up with city councillors who don't listen to residents and a dog could do a better job.

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/WeirdNews/2010/04/19/13639831.html