Mid-Week Mini: A Pothole Was Elected Mayor

In this week’s Mid-Week Mini Episode, we talk about how a pothole was elected Mayor.

There was once a town in the United States that tried to solve its pothole problem… by electing one.

That’s not a metaphor. They elected an actual pothole.

Back in 1997, the small and very frustrated town of Dry Gulch, Nevada had reached its breaking point. Roads were crumbling, budgets were tight, and every election cycle came with the same promises: “We’ll fix the roads.” And every year, those roads got worse.

So one year, someone had an idea that was either genius or deeply concerning.

Instead of voting for a mayor, they wrote in a candidate named “Pothole #7.”

Now this wasn’t just any pothole. Pothole #7 was legendary. It sat right in the middle of Main Street, had been there for over a decade, and had reportedly taken out three hubcaps, two axles, and at least one man’s dignity.

People knew it. People feared it. And most importantly – it had never once made a promise it didn’t keep.

Word spread, mostly as a joke at first. But when ballots were counted, something strange happened.

Pothole #7 received 312 votes.

The next closest human candidate got 287.

And just like that… Dry Gulch had a new mayor.

Now, legally speaking, this created some complications. The state of Nevada did not have clear guidelines on whether a depression in asphalt could hold public office. There were meetings, debates, and one very heated town hall where someone yelled, “At least it’s consistent!”

Eventually, a compromise was reached.

Pothole #7 would serve as a symbolic mayor, while an appointed “acting mayor” would handle the actual responsibilities. But here’s where things get interesting.

Within six months, the roads were fixed.

Every single one.

Not because of new funding. Not because of a brilliant infrastructure plan. But because the entire situation had become so embarrassing that the state stepped in and said, “We cannot let this be the headline.”

And just like that, Dry Gulch got the repairs it had been promised for years.

As for Pothole #7, it was ceremoniously filled during a town celebration that included a marching band, a commemorative plaque, and one very emotional speech from a resident who said, “It really brought this community together… slowly, and with a lot of suspension damage.”

The plaque reportedly read:
“Here lies Pothole #7 – the only politician who truly represented the condition of our roads.”

Sometimes, the only way to fix a broken system… is to make it so ridiculous that someone finally does something about it.

The Internet Says…..that all of that was made up. Happy April Fools Day.