Duke, the Dog Who was Mayor of a Minnesota Township, Died This Week at the Age of 13

There's this town in northern Minnesota called Cormorant Township. It made the news back in 2014 when its residents elected a Great Pyrenees named Duke as a ceremonial mayor for the community. Duke was re-elected three times, winning most recently in May 2017. Duke retired last year due to failing health.

Duke made the news last week after it was announced that he passed away. It's not clear from the Facebook announcement the cause of his death.

I personally have a problem with communities that elect animals into ceremonial political roles. It minimizes the role that public officials have -- or should have -- as public servants. I know that it's not popular to admit this, but good and responsive government is something that we should all expect. But it's sad to learn that Duke passed away.

Duke was 13-years-old at the time of his death.