Detroit Zoo Election is for Constituents of the Slithering Kind

ROYAL OAK, MI — One of the elections that hasn’t garnered much attention this year is for the leader of “constituents” who literally slither.

The Detroit Zoo is seeking candidates to run for the mayor of Amphibiville, a ceremonial two-year position that will be occupied by one Michigan youth based on an essay about what he or she can do to help amphibians.

Amphibiville is part of the National Amphibian Conservation Center, a two-acre wetland village The Wall Street Journal dubbed “Disneyland for toads” after its 2000 opening. The state-of-the-art facility boasts a diversity of frogs, toads, salamanders, newts and caecilians.

To join the race, candidates 7-12 years old who live in Michigan must submit an essay of 100 words or fewer on what they can do to help amphibians. All entries must be submitted by Oct. 7 to PR1@dzs.org or to:

Mayor of Amphibiville,
Detroit Zoological Society, 8450 W. 10 Mile Road
Royal Oak, MI 48067

Entries must include the candidate’s name, age, address and daytime telephone number. The winner will be announced, naturally, in November.

The new mayor of Amphibiville will be officially sworn in and receive a plaque inscribed with his or her name displayed in the National Amphibian Conservation Center, a plush frog and a one-year family membership to the Detroit Zoo.

Amphibiville’s outgoing mayor is Jack Salvati, 10, of Milford, who was sworn into office in November 2014 and is ending his two-year term.

Featured image: Jack Salvati, 10, of Milford, is the current mayor of Amphibiville. Photo by Jennie Miller via Detroit Zoo