BY EARNEST WINSTON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
RABBIT HASH, Ky. -- Try this for Kentucky politics: Anyone can be mayor of this tiny Ohio River town. Three months old or a resident of Canada -- it doesn't matter.
What does matter is that candidates buy their way into office. Yep. The person with the most money wins, and all candidates are encouraged to stuff the ballot box. Ballots are a buck each, or six ballots for five bucks.
As part of Boone County's 200th birthday celebration, residents are selling ballots (actually raffle tickets) to choose an honorary mayor. Proceeds from the fund-raiser will be used to restore the East Bend Methodist Church.
The winner will enjoy all rights and privileges of the office -- a certificate and a street temporarily renamed in the mayor's honor.
"This is a title with no responsibility. We really don't have any rules. People will park in the middle of the road and don't think anything of it," said Rabbit Hash resident Barbara Fallis, who developed the fund-raiser.
The official ballot reads: "It is with great pride (and some cash) that I cast my vote for . . ."
Mrs. Fallis said the 10-square-mile town of about 200 residents has no true city limits.
"It's not a city or a town. It's just a name. There are just some vague understood limits," Mrs. Fallis said.
The ballot initiative is "full of humor. I think it's a great idea," said Alexis Scott, co-owner of the Rabbit Hash General Store, where ballots are available until June 28.
