New Natchez Pet Mayor To Be Sworn In At Collaring Ceremony On May 10 At Natchez City Hall

It’s official: Natchez has gone to the dogs. After several weeks of spirited campaigning the Downtown Natchez Alliance (DNA) announced the winners of their first annual Natchez Pet Mayor Election on April 27, 2025. With a last minute surge in the polls, the winner was Mary Frances, a beloved black Labrador Retriever owned by Dennis and Darby Short.

The results were announced during a press conference at the William Johnson House, where Natchez Mayor Dan M. Gibson praised the event stating, “in Natchez, we know how to blend fun, tradition, and heart in everything we do,” Gibson said. “The Natchez Pet Mayor Election brought joy to our city while supporting vital causes, and it speaks to the bright future we’re building together.”

Mary Frances is a fixture around town, where serves as the four-legged greeter at Darby’s — the popular Main Street shop known for homemade fudge and unique gifts. She edged out fellow candidate Roni, a cat owned by the Graning Family, by 321 votes in the final tally.

“Mary Frances has been patrolling downtown Natchez for 12 years as the self-proclaimed unofficial Pet Mayor — and now, thanks to her wonderful supporters, it’s official,” said Dennis Short. She continued, sharing how the campaign helped promote Natchez far beyond the city limits. “I’ve spent the week wearing my ‘Mary Frances for Natchez Pet Mayor’ button at market in High Point, NC answering questions about what Natchez Pet Mayor is — and of course, bragging about how wonderful Natchez is as a destination.”

There wasn’t just a single winner in the election, as Places Second through Tenth were designated to various Pet versions of Natchez City offices.

All will be sworn into office at the “Collaring Ceremony” to be held on May 10, 2025 at the front steps of Natchez City Hall, located at 124 S. Pearl Street, at 9:30am. The public is welcome and invited to attend.

The full list of winners are as follows:

• First Place / Natchez Pet Mayor: MARY FRANCES, owned by Dennis & Darby Short and supported by Darby’s
• Second Place / “Chief of PAWlice”: RONI owned by the Graning Family and supported by Wardo’s Poboys
• Third Place / “Natchez FUR Chief”: DART, owned by John Grady Burns and supported by Hal Garner at Nest
• Fourth Place / “PAWldermen, Ward 1”: CLOVER, sponsored by Concordia Bank & Trust and available for adoption through Hoofbeats and PawPrints Rescue
• Fifth Place / “PAWldermen, Ward 2”: PACHO, owned by Aisha Sanders and supported by the Sanders Law Firm
• Sixth Place / “PAWldermen, Ward 3”: BEAN, owned by Lexi Lehrman and supported by Butter Cakery
• Seventh Place / “PAWldermen, Ward 4”: HAL THE HORSE, owned by Guy Tuccio of Southern Carriage Tours and supported by Levi and Grace Construction
• Eighth Place / “PAWldermen, Ward 5”: POPPY, owned by Gail Guido and supported by Silver Street Gallery and Gifts
• Ninth Place / “PAWldermen, Ward 6”: OREO, owned by Brittany Mitchell
• Tenth Place / “Director of PAWks and Recreation”: MAGGIE MAY, owned by Bubba and Katie McCabe and supported by The Pig Out Inn Barbeque
• Eleventh Place / “Director of PAWblic Works”: TISHA, supported by United Mississippi Bank and available for adoption at the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society

Elizabeth Greer, Promotions Chair and Board Secretary for the DNA, emphasized the spirit and success of the event, commenting “we knew this event had the potential to be fun, but the way the entire community — residents, tourists, businesses, and even friends across the country — rallied around it was truly inspiring,” said Greer. “It brought new energy downtown, showcased the spirit of Natchez, and helped us highlight causes that matter deeply to our hearts.”.

Lexi Lehrman, of Butter Cakery, whose dog Bean won the “PAWlderman” seat for Ward 3, said, “Being PAWlderman for our beloved city is a responsibility that Bean does not take lightly. We are absolutely thrilled, and we had a blast campaigning.”

Kathy Fitch, owner of Hoofbeats and PawPrints Rescue, shared her hopes for Clover, who won the “PAWlderman” seat for Ward 1. “Clover wants everyone to know that she appreciates all of the votes and she will do her best,” Fitch said. “She is grateful that the City of Natchez and DNA are so supportive of the role pets play in making our lives better.”

Fitch also noted that Clover, a sweet and gentle dog, is still available for adoption through Hoofbeats and PawPrints Rescue and hopes to find her forever home soon. “Clover also appreciates the chance to raise public awareness about the more than 100 adoptable large adult dogs currently in Miss-Lou area shelters. Any person who adopts one of those dogs will save two lives — both the dog they adopt and the dog that shelter space makes room for. She promises to continue working to raise awareness about responsible pet ownership, including the importance of spay and neuter services and providing Heartworm preventative for all dogs.”

The Natchez Pet Mayor Election served not only as a joyful celebration but also as a fundraiser for local causes and to support DNA’s on-going revitalization of Downtown Natchez. Overall, $16,676.01 net proceeds were raised. Twenty percent of the net voting proceeds will benefit local animal welfare organizations: The Natchez-Adams County Humane Society, Hoofbeats and PawPrints Rescue, and Spay/Neuter Natchez.

Norma West, President of DNA, thanked the many sponsors who helped make the election possible, including the local Taco Bell as Title Sponsor as well as Concordia Bank & Trust, United Mississippi Bank, and The Natchez Democrat, along with numerous downtown business partners. “Their support helps fuel not only downtown revitalization efforts but also future events that bring joy, energy, and pride to our community,” West said.

DNA Executive Director Leah Hunter praised the success of the election and looked ahead with excitement. “Seeing the outpouring of support for the Pet Mayor election reinforces why I’m so excited to be joining the Downtown Natchez Alliance,” said Hunter. “Our mission to revitalize downtown is all about fostering connections between people, businesses, and history, and I look forward to building on this momentum.”

As for Mary Frances, Natchez’s newest and furriest elected official, the Shorts promise her first term to be full of adventures, community spirit, and plenty of tail wags.