While most 5-year-olds his age were playing, Robert "Bobby" Tufts was running a town. But now that run is over, since the 5-year-old mayor did not win reelection.
Bobby lost his bid for a third consecutive term as mayor of Dorset, a tiny tourist town in northern Minnesota, The Associated Press reports. Instead, 16-year-old Eric Mueller from Mendota Heights will take over after his name was drawn from the ballot box during the town's annual Taste of Dorset festival.
Bobby was just 3 when he was first elected mayor in 2012 in Dorset, which is about 150 miles northwest of Minneapolis and has no formal city government, AP reported. The population ranges from nine to 28.
"It was fun, but it's time to pass on the vote," Bobby told AP before suggesting his little brother get a shot some point: "I'm gonna let James do it. He's 2."
So how is the election process in Dorset? Votes cost $1 and people can vote as many times as they'd like at ballot boxes in stores around town, AP stated. The funds are used for organizing the festival.
Although Bobby said he was proud of his efforts to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Red River in Fargo, North Dakota, he told AP one of his other major acts as mayor was to declare ice cream top of the food pyramid.
Emma Tufts, Bobby's mother, told AP that family members joked about having Bobby and James build a political resume to prepare for 2048's presidential run but she's glad he will get a break. Instead of throwing the candy at parades, he can catch it instead.
"He really enjoyed being a kid in some festivals, not having to perform," she told AP.
According to AP, Eric, the new mayor, first got the idea to run after he ate five fried ice creams at one sitting. He will be a high school junior this fall.
