# Mayor Max II

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Mayor of Idyllwild–Pine Cove, California

Mayor Max II Mayor Max II in his visiting truck, November 24, 2013 Mayor-for-life of Idyllwild In office July 21, 2013 – July 30, 2022 Deputy Mikey Mighty-Dog Mueller Mitzi Marie Mueller[1] Preceded by Max I Succeeded by Max III Personal details Born Maximus Mighty-Dog Mueller (2013-05-06)May 6, 2013 Died July 30, 2022(2022-07-30) (aged 9) Temecula, California, U.S. Species Dog Breed Golden Retriever Sex Male

**Maximus Mighty-Dog Mueller II** (May 6, 2013 – July 30, 2022) was a [golden retriever](/source/Golden_retriever) dog who served as the second unofficial mayor of Idyllwild, part of the [census-designated place](/source/Census-designated_place) of [Idyllwild–Pine Cove, California](/source/Idyllwild%E2%80%93Pine_Cove%2C_California). His deputy mayors, Mitzi and Mikey, were his cousins.[2] After his death Mayor Max II was succeeded by his cousin Max III, who was sworn in on December 10, 2022.[3]

## Mayorality

In 2012, the non-profit organization Idyllwild Animal Rescue Friends (ARF) hosted an "election" for mayor of Idyllwild (which, as part of an unincorporated community, has no local government) as part of a fundraising event for the organization. Fourteen dogs and two cats ran, and Max, a [Golden Retriever](/source/Golden_Retriever), was elected as Idyllwild's first mayor. On April 2, 2013, Mayor Max died, and Maximus Mighty-Dog Mueller II, another Golden Retriever, arrived in Idyllwild on July 21 to complete the remainder of the term.[4] In March 2014, as the end of Max's term approached, ARF solicited the town's interest in holding another election. The people overwhelmingly pled for Mayor Max's continuation in perpetuity.[5][3]

Mayor Max was recognized by the [County of Riverside](/source/County_of_Riverside), California.[6] The mayor's duties included visiting with locals and out-of-town visitors, attending business grand openings and other town functions, participating in the town's two annual parades, and promoting Idyllwild.[7] Max's popularity had spread the world over, and he has represented the town through appearances on news programs, talk shows, advertisements, billboards, and a game show.[8]

## Death

Mayor Max died in the city of [Temecula](/source/Temecula) on July 30, 2022, after suffering a brief medical issue.[9] He was succeeded by [Mayor Max III](/source/Mayor_Max_III), who formally took office on December 10, 2022.[10][11]

## See also

- [List of individual dogs](/source/List_of_individual_dogs)

- [Non-human electoral candidate](/source/Non-human_electoral_candidate)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Jacobo, Julia (May 30, 2019). ["Golden retriever named Mueller is mayor of Southern California town"](https://web.archive.org/web/20220405154954/https://abcnews.go.com/US/golden-retriever-named-mueller-mayor-southern-california-town/story?id=63371017). *[ABC News](/source/ABC_News_(United_States))*. [ABC News Internet Ventures](/source/ABC_News_Internet_Ventures). Archived from [the original](https://abcnews.go.com/US/golden-retriever-named-mueller-mayor-southern-california-town/story?id=63371017) on April 5, 2022. Retrieved April 10, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Jacobo, Julia (May 30, 2019). ["Golden retriever named Mueller is the mayor of Southern California town"](https://web.archive.org/web/20220405154954/https://abcnews.go.com/US/golden-retriever-named-mueller-mayor-southern-california-town/story?id=63371017). *[ABC News](/source/ABC_News_(United_States))*. [ABC News Internet Ventures](/source/ABC_News_Internet_Ventures). Archived from [the original](https://abcnews.go.com/US/golden-retriever-named-mueller-mayor-southern-california-town/story?id=63371017) on April 5, 2022. Retrieved April 10, 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-MayorMax_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-MayorMax_3-1) Page, Sydney (September 29, 2023). ["A dog is 'mayor' in this town. 'I didn't take it as a joke,' says owner"](https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2023/09/29/dog-max-mayor-idyllwild-california/). *[The Washington Post](/source/The_Washington_Post)*. Retrieved September 30, 2023. There's been nepotism and vote buying in the town of Idyllwild, California

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Mayor Max of Idyllwild, California"](https://www.mayormax.com/). *www.mayormax.com*. Retrieved July 31, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Office of the Mayor of Idyllwild"](http://www.mayormax.com). (Retrieved January 24, 2021)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [*Riverside County Supervisor Chuck Washington and Mayor Max*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeCcW6tEI3s), November 24, 2019, retrieved April 10, 2021

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Mayor Max 2 - Learn the amazing story of how a dog became the mayor of a Californian town -"](https://web.archive.org/web/20221119063842/https://moonjis.com/mayor-max-2-learn-the-amazing-story-of-how-a-dog/). May 10, 2021. Archived from [the original](https://moonjis.com/mayor-max-2-learn-the-amazing-story-of-how-a-dog/) on November 19, 2022. Retrieved November 19, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["An Interview with Idyllwild's Mayor Max"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210821141600/http://digital.petcompanionmag.com/publication/?i=651393&article_id=3611026&view=articleBrowser&ver=html5). Archived from [the original](http://digital.petcompanionmag.com/publication/?i=651393&article_id=3611026&view=articleBrowser&ver=html5) on August 21, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Office of the Mayor of Idyllwild"](http://www.mayormax.com). (Retrieved August 3, 2022)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Office of the Mayor of Idyllwild"](http://www.mayormax.com/index.htm). (Retrieved March 11, 2023)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Madden, Emma (September 24, 2023). ["'He ate three of his ties in a month': California's dog mayor celebrates a year in office"](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/sep/24/mayor-max-idyllwild-dog-golden-retriever). *The Guardian*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0261-3077](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0261-3077). Retrieved September 27, 2023.

## External links

- [Mayor Max, Mayor of Idyllwild, California - Official website](https://mayormax.com/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mayor Max II](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayor_Max_II) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayor_Max_II?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.