Somerville has a new cat mayor: Meet Minerva

"Minerva, a black cat whose slogan was simply - and sinisterly - "CRIME," was selected as mayor after an election process that captivated Somerville and other surrounding communities "Minerva asked me to say one thing on her behalf and one thing only: crime," the cat's owner, Daniel Abraham, said at Sunday's reveal. Minerva dethroned 3-year-old Berry, the incumbent who campaigned with the slogan "Make cats outside again." Berry received an endorsement from Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, who is up for reelection this year, but Minerva's mysterious message seems to have charmed the neighborhood."

"The election started as a joke among two friends, and quickly grew to become a community art installation. Berry's owner, Mallory Bissett, had declared her cat the unofficial bike path mayor to familiarize the community with her cat who rebuffs her collar. Soon enough, Janet McNamara, owner of a feline named "Orange Cat," decided it was time for Berry to be challenged. "Berry became mayor of Somerville without an election, and I thought that was bologna," McNamara told NBC10 Boston. "Orange Cat stands for fair and free elections.""

""I want to know like, Minerva the cat, what is her take on crime? Is she for crime? Is she against it?" Jennie Erikson, of Somerville, told NBC10 Boston in July."

Somerville residents held an unofficial bike-path mayor election that crowned Minerva, a black cat whose single slogan was "CRIME." The grassroots contest began as a joke between friends and evolved into a community art installation, drawing more than a dozen cats and two dogs. Minerva unseated incumbent Berry, who campaigned with "Make cats outside again" and had an endorsement from Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne. Neighbors reacted with curiosity and humor, asking what Minerva's stance on crime might be. Another contender, Orange Cat, ran to promote fair, free elections. The city's human mayoral race moved forward with preliminary voting.

Read at Boston.com