Staff Report

Willie Bean, the Fairhope Labrador retriever who “ran” as a candidate for mayor in Fairhope, is back on the campaign trail as city runoffs approach. The dog won 107 more “votes” than the two leading mayoral candidates combined, so efforts to raise funds for the Baldwin Animal Rescue Center will resume until the October vote, the canine’s supporters said Wednesday

Willie Bean’s campaign raised $2,637 with each dollar counting as a vote. Runoff candidates Dean Mosher and Tim Kant garnered a combined 2,530 votes, according to unofficial results.

“We are so jazzed by the support Willie Bean has received from everyone,” said Tress Turner, Willie Bean’s owner. “He’s put Fairhope on the map. Being in the runoff will help us continue to raise funds for BARC. We always knew he’d be a winner.”

The dog, who’s full name is Willie Bean Roscoe P. Coltrane, has also been approached by a national charitable organization, Turner said, and supporters are looking for ways to help that organization take advantage of the dog’s media attention.

Donations to the Willie Bean campaign, benefiting the Animal Rescue Center, can be made at The Coffee Loft or the BARC office, both in Fairhope.

A Willie Bean Web site has been launched — www.williebeanformayor.com — and scores of campaign souvenirs have been sold, Turner said.