Purrfectly Political in Omena

Local mayor’s race unites community, funds preservation

With all eyes on November’s presidential election, plus initiatives and races on local ballots, voters could be forgiven for missing this summer’s most significant local election: the first horse to take the mayoral office in Omena.

Omena’s mayoral race is a competition that can result in fur flying and ruffled feathers, but not with the vitriol we see in today’s American politics. Every three years, local residents compete and get out the vote for their favorite furry (and sometimes not-so-furry) friends. Over the years cats, dogs, goats, chickens, and now, horses, have stepped up to lead the township.

Omena: Small Town, Rich History

Omena may be small, but its history reflects the development of the area initially referred to as “New Mission.” In 1852, the Reverend Peter Dougherty left Old Mission Peninsula to found a new mission in Omena. While the name “New Mission” didn’t stick, Omena over the years developed into a tourist destination and charming village for residents.

In 1994, a group of local citizens decided that its history was worthy of more intentional preservation and founded the Omena Historical Society (OHS). “The historical society itself was started 30 years ago. It started with a group of people sitting on the porch talking about the history of Omena, and eventually it became a 501(c)(3),” says current OHS president, Sally Viskochil.

Twenty years ago, the Omena Historical Society acquired the historic 1876 Putnam-Cloud Tower House. They moved the house to its location in the heart of Omena, and it became a museum. The structure was one of the first farmhouses built in Omena.

Viskochil’s Tamarack Gallery sat next door to the newly-relocated building. “My husband and I started this business, and we lived above the store in Omena. We were always involved with the community,” she tells us. When the opportunity to move the building came up, it was only natural that Viskochil and her husband got involved. “It’s my neighbor, you know,” she says.

Memorable Meow-ments

All that history came with a price, however. The building was donated to the historical society when it was going to be torn down, but moving it and restoring it were expensive. Omena’s unique mayoral race officially dates to 2009, when the first paw-litical campaigns kicked off.

“The idea for a mayoral race with animals originated from a little town in Kentucky who did something similar. Our race isn’t political; it’s strictly a fundraiser!” Viskochil emphasizes. Still, “People get pretty competitive, they want their animal to win.” Voting costs $1 a vote, with no limits on the number of votes you can buy.

“The idea didn’t catch on for a number of years until Nana Kennedy was board president,” says Debby Disch, a former historical society board member and the co-chair of 2024’s election. Disch notes that Kennedy’s husband had recently retired and threw himself into chairing the event.

Disch, whose husband writes the Omena news column, reflects fondly on memorable past elections. “2012 was quite a fun election,” she says. “My husband had written something about how any four-legged resident can run. Well, Polly, [a retriever] who was around 12, had had bone cancer and had lost a leg. After the deadline to enter as mayor, some of her [human] friends were talking, no doubt over a cocktail or glass of wine, and outraged that we were discriminating. They started a whole campaign about animals with disabilities. Polly Loveless ran and won—it was quite the campaign!”

2018’s election was also memorable, with first-ever cat mayor Sweet Tart McKee going internationally viral. Disch’s own dog, Rosie, also has served as mayor.

As for the duties of the office? “The obligations once you are mayor are fairly straightforward and include participating in the annual Northport dog parade and the almost-annual O’Mena St. Patrick’s Day Parade,” says Disch. Sweet Tart was the first cat included in the Northport Dog Parade.

“This year we have a horse and co-vice mayors who are cats. Sweet Tart has since died but her sister is deputy vice mayor,” says Disch. “There are a lot of family stories here.” All the animals that run become members of the village council, which runs the town and makes the major decisions in the hamlet.

Building a Claw-some Community

All funds raised from the mayoral election in Omena go to the historical society’s efforts to preserve local history. With dollars raised from past mayoral races—which typically ranges from $10,000-$15,000—the Historical Society previously had the façade of their building repaired.

“A lot of the necessary repair work had to do with how buildings were built in the past,” Viskochil explains. “In the past, buildings didn’t have insulation; the buildings breathed. When the building was moved to its new position, it had insulation put in, which then interfered with the way the moisture left the building and caused the façade paint to peel and rot some lumber which had to be repaired.”

The historical society also hired Amanda J. Holmes to conduct archival research and funded the publication of Michigan History Award winning book Omena: a Place in Time.

2024’s election raised over $15,000, which has been earmarked for future building maintenance. “We know a new roof will come up at some point, plus new air conditioning and heating,” says Viskochil. “The race has been a great boon for us, and now we have some in reserve.”

“It took us all by surprise!” agrees Disch of the election. “It has been an incredibly successful fundraiser for the historical society.”

The Omena Historical Society museum hosts exhibits but is more than just a building; it is open to the community regularly beyond its museum function. For example, the historical society hosts a regular coffee hour every Thursday.

“Usually people bring something sweet to eat, and a little crowd shows up to have coffee,” says Viskochil. A men’s group gathers regularly on Friday mornings for their own coffee hour. “Recently a neighbor had their daughter’s baby shower there. We would like people to be able to use it and see the exhibits and come in and think of it as their own because it is our history,” she adds.

“Omena’s a wonderful place. It’s a spot of heaven right there on the Bay,” concludes Viskochil.

We’re betting Mayor Bosco would put her hoof of approval on its neigh-borly reputation.

Current Omena Mayoral Team

Omena Mayor: Lucky Dinero Bosco
Vice Mayors: Topsy & Turvy Stephenson
Deputy Vice Mayor: Porsche McKee

Current Omena Village Council

Bear Woolford
Birdie Anderson
Clyde (Henrik) Joyce
Emmie Tomlinson
Jovi Labriola
Lenny Kravitz Deal
Maxim de Drinan
McMachen “Mac” Walker
Mr. Beans
Rosie Disch
Ruby Emmert
Sandra Day G.O.A.T
Schatzi Putnam
Shasta Messer
Storm Putnam

Past Mayors of Omena

Tucker Joyce, a golden retriever (elected 2009)
Maya Deibel, an English setter (elected 2012)
Polly Loveless, a golden retriever (elected 2015, died in office)
Parker Joyce, a golden retriever (assumed office after Loveless’s passing)
Sweet Tart McKee, a Norwegian forest cat (elected 2018)
Rosie Disch, a yellow lab mix (elected 2021)
Lucky Dinero Bosco, an American quarter horse/paint horse (elected 2024)

Oaths of Office

What did some of the past mayors of Omena promise their constituents?

Sweet Tart’s Oath of Office: “I will be paws-itive in responding to the needs of my Omena constituents. My cabinet appointments will not be influenced by bureau-cats. I will enlist only public servants who will not horse around. I will utilize the power of purr-swasion to maintain the highest standards of leadership.”

Polly’s Oath of Office: “I will perform at a level that is the cat’s meow. My cabinet appointments will not be influenced by tails that may wag my dogs. I will ensure that my office will never be a can of worms, nor make decisions at a snail’s pace. My leadership will be dedicated to preventing our precious historic Omena from ever going to the dogs.”

(Courtesy of Debby Disch)

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