By Press-Register staff

November 09, 2009, 9:02AM

Willie Bean, seen here in 2008, “announced” via his web site that he will be running for mayor of New Orleans.Willie Bean, the canine candidate who made an unsuccessful bid for mayor of Fairhope last fall, is off and running again.

The affable Labrador announced on his Web site recently that he will be a candidate for mayor of New Orleans. The city’s election is May 3, and so far the race to replace term-limited Mayor Ray Nagin has been notable mainly for the number of candidates who have opted not to run.

The lack of serious interest has prompted local write-in campaigns for political guru James Carville and actor Brad Pitt. There’s even a Web site promoting actor Carl Weathers, a.k.a. Apollo Creed from the “Rocky” movies, as a candidate.

Willie is a native of New Orleans and embodies the spirit of the Big Easy, according to his owner, Tress Turner.

“Just like most New Orleanians, Willie never meets a stranger,” said Turner, an artist and manager of the Coffee Loft in Fairhope.

Turner said Willie’s campaign will raise money for the Humane Society of Louisiana and has established local headquarters at the Old Point Bar in Algiers Point. For more information, visit Willie online at www.williebeanformayor.com.

Political Celebrity Dogs

by J. D. Crowe

Just a few weeks ago, Fairhope was buzzing with alleged sightings of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. The celebrity power couple of Fairhope might more likely be Paris Hilton and Willie Bean.

This election year is getting stranger and stranger, and everybody has a dog in the fight. We’re all quite proud of our own dog…the Canine Change Candidate from Fairhope, Willie Bean. His campaign for mayor has gotten worldwide attention while raising money for good causes and adding a sense of fun to a heated election year.

But who in the heck woulda thunk that ol’ John McCain would be dragging Paris Hilton and Britney Spears into the presidential campaign by comparing them with Barack Obama? And Paris, who, like, never misses an opportunity for self promotion, has jumped all over it with her own series of ads in response to McCain’s charges. If you haven’t seen at least one of the ads, you will. They’re hot. And she has a pretty good energy plan.

I’m afraid this whole celebrity thing will go to Willie’s head. He’s a good ol’ Southern boy, well-heeled and raised right, but all this attention and fame, I’m afraid, will have him humpin’ legs he shouldn’t be humpin’. All I’m sayin’ is, Willie has been doing great so far. He needs a sex scandal about as much as McCain needs a sunburn.