{{Infobox officeholder | name = Mayor Max III | office = [[Life tenure|Mayor-for-life]] of [[Idyllwild–Pine Cove, California|Idyllwild]] | deputy = Vice Mayor Meadow Mueller<br>Mitzi Marie Mueller<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://mayormax.com/ |title=Mayor Max of Idyllwild, California |website=mayormax.com |access-date=2026-05-10}}</ref><br>Mikey Mighty-Dog Mueller<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mueller |first=Phyllis |date=December 15, 2024 |title=Mikey |url=http://www.mayormax.com/mikey/ |website=mayormax.com |access-date=2026-05-10}}</ref> | predecessor = [[Mayor Max II]] | term_start = December 10, 2022 | birth_name = Maximus Mighty-Dog Mueller III | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2022|9|5}} | birth_place = [[Payson, Utah|Payson]], [[Utah]], U.S }}
'''Maximus Mighty-Dog Mueller III''' (born 5 September 2022) is a [[Golden Retriever|golden retriever]] dog who serves as the third unofficial mayor of [[Idyllwild–Pine Cove, California|Idyllwild,]] part of the [[census-designated place]] of [[Idyllwild–Pine Cove, California]]. He took office on 10 December 2022, succeeding his predecessor and cousin [[Mayor Max II]].
== Mayorality == Following the death of [[Mayor Max II]] on July 30 2022, [[Deputy mayor|Deputy Mayors]] Mikey and Mitzi served as interim co-mayors while a search for a successor began.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mikey |url=https://www.mayormax.com/mikey/ |access-date=2026-05-10 |website=www.mayormax.com}}</ref> On December 10 2022, Mayor Max III, a three-month-old Golden Retriever, was inaugurated as Idyllwild's third honorary mayor.
Max III's duties as a goodwill ambassador include daily public appearances in his Mayor-Mobile, attending grand openings and visiting schools and hospitals.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Madden |first=Emma |date=2023-09-24 |title=‘He ate three of his ties in a month’: California’s dog mayor celebrates a year in office |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/sep/24/mayor-max-idyllwild-dog-golden-retriever |access-date=2026-05-10 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Foster |first=Timothy |date=2025-07-21 |title=Neighborhood Hero: Mayor Max III: The Golden Retriever Who Brings a Community Together |url=https://kesq.com/neighborhood-heroes/2025/07/20/neighborhood-hero-mayor-max-iii-the-golden-retriever-who-brings-a-community-together/ |access-date=2026-05-10 |website=KESQ |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-07-25 |title=Meet Max III, the Golden Retriever who is the Mayor of a small town in California |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/spotlight/meet-max-iii-the-golden-retriever-who-is-the-mayor-of-a-small-town-in-california/articleshow/122894751.cms |access-date=2026-05-10 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> He can be seen wearing one of his thousands of custom neckties while greeting constituents at his official parking spot near Wooley’s.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Francis-Crow |first=Alana |date=2024-08-02 |title=This California Town’s Mayor’s Duties Include Belly Rubs And Head Scratches |url=https://www.thedodo.com/this-california-towns-mayors-duties-include-belly-rubs-and-head-scratches |access-date=2026-05-10 |website=The Dodo |language=en}}</ref> His sister is the vice mayor, and Deputy Mayor Mitzi, succeeding the former deputy mayor Mikey, supports his administration.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-20 |title=The unusual story of how a dog became a town's mayor |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-11-20/mayor-max-idyllwild |access-date=2026-05-10 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> His popularity has attracted coverage from many news companies which have interviewed him for articles in newspapers, as well as an upcoming drama play called "Meet Mayor Max" in the UK.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet Mayor Max |url=https://theatreroyal.com/whats-on/meet-mayor-max/ |access-date=2026-05-10 |website=Theatre Royal Plymouth |language=en-GB}}</ref>
== See also ==
* [[List of individual dogs]] * [[Non-human electoral candidate]]
== References == <references /> [[Category:Individual dogs]] [[Category:Individual dogs in the United States]] [[Category:2022 animal births]] [[Category:Mayors of places in California]]