GovLove Podcast #710: Canine Mayor with Jake the Dog and Shani Leichter, Somerville, MA

Host: Lauren Palmer (ELGL)
Guests: Jake the Dog, Canine Mayor of Somerville, MA; Shani Leichter (owner, handler, and campaign manager)
Release Date: January 9, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of GovLove takes a joyful turn as host Lauren Palmer sits down with Jake the Dog, Somerville’s first Canine Mayor, and his owner, chief of staff, and campaign manager, Shani Leichter. The conversation unpacks how a playful community engagement effort became a local sensation, explores Jake’s origins and campaign trail, and delves into the serious lessons about joy, community, and civic participation that Jake's story brings to the world of local government.

Lightning Round: Getting to Know Shani & Jake

[01:10 – 06:15]

• Favorite Activity (besides campaigning):
  • Shani shares that she and Jake love being outdoors, especially in cooler weather—hiking, exploring trails, playing on beaches, and snowshoeing.
    • "Jake is definitely a winter pup. ...He loves to play frisbee on the beach and bringing his frisbee into the water." —Shani [01:45, 01:57]
• First Paying Job:
  • Shani’s first role was at a large hotel and convention resort. She enjoyed fast pace and problem-solving, but not unpredictable schedules.
    • "I work best when I know where I need to be, when I need to be there and have some consistency." —Shani [03:04]
• Book Recommendations:
  • Shani is an avid reader and offers top picks:
    • As Long as the Lemon Tree Grows (about the war in Syria)
    • The Lion Women of Tehran
    • Homegoing (about the slave trade; "A difficult read, but really powerful and important." —Shani [05:05])
    • The Things We Cannot Say (set in present time and WWII)

Somerville: Setting the Scene

[06:17 – 09:18]

• Background:
  • Somerville, MA: settled in 1600s, city since 1842, "home of marshmallow fluff," most densely populated city in New England (over 80,000 residents in four square miles).
  • Highly diverse, artistic, and progressive; over 50 languages spoken in schools, strong foodie scene, and proximity to major universities (MIT, Harvard, Tufts).

Jake’s Origin Story: From Rescue to Mayor

[09:18 – 12:16]

• Jake's Background:
  • 10.5-year-old rescue from Texas, found as a puppy with his litter and mother, rescued from a locked boat dock bathroom.
  • Fostered in Texas and Rhode Island before finding his forever home in Somerville.
• Fateful Adoption:
  • “His little face, like, just, you know, the first time I saw it, I was like, oh, my God, that's like my dog. And he was. Turns out he was." —Shani [11:58]

Becoming the Canine Mayor

[12:16 – 16:59]

• The Election:
  • Organized by local pet supply store Scritches and Boops; 40 dogs ran for office.
  • "People who know Somerville will not be surprised that Somerville has a dog mayor. It's just that kind of funky place…" —Shani [12:35]
• Campaign Success:
  • Jake’s success credited to years of building relationships around town—shops, fire stations, the vet’s office.
    • "He's been putting in a lot of FaceTime. And I honestly think the FaceTime...the pause on the ground is really what set him apart from the other candidates." —Shani [15:00]
  • As a community joke ("mayor Jake"), the campaign was embraced as both fun and meaningful.

Mayor Jake’s Duties and Impact

[16:59 – 21:04]

• Post-Election Activities:
  • Judged Halloween dog costume contests (with support from "cabinet" of other dog candidates).
  • Organized a fundraiser for the local pet food pantry ($1,000 raised).
  • Launched “Jake merch” through collaboration with a local high school.
  • Purposefully uses his platform for more than social media: raising awareness, supporting pets and their families, and nurturing joy.
    • "We're really trying to use our, you know, it's not a huge platform, but our platform to, you know, raise awareness and bring attention..." —Shani [18:06]
  • Supports increasing dog-friendly spaces and reminds that responsible pet ownership takes human effort.

Jake's Platform: Issues & Community Wellbeing

[19:28 – 21:04]

• Key Issues:
  • Access to food and treats ("his number one priority").
  • Increasing dog-friendly spaces, advocating for responsible pet ownership.
  • Fostering joy and connection, especially during challenging times.
    • "Jake has used his social media platform...to provide comfort to people during these really challenging times, to bring some levity and light..." —Shani [20:23]
• Inclusiveness:
  • Cabinet includes other dogs; campaign fostered a sense of inclusion and engagement for pets and their owners.

Joy & Community Connection

[21:04 – 24:07]

• Joy as Core Value:
  • The campaign brought "so much connection," forging new friendships ("both human and dog").
  • Local excitement: "He walks in and everyone's like, the mayor's here. The mayor's here. You know, Jake, the mayor is here." —Shani [22:29]
• Creative Engagement:
  • Stickers and campaign memorabilia seen around town; enthusiasm for the election carries on.
  • Demonstrates a fun, novel approach to community engagement, beyond traditional meetings.

Collaboration with City Government

[24:07 – 25:08]

• Official Connections:
  • Human city government in transition, but there are two Mayor Jakes incoming (canine and human).
    • "There are two Jake mayor Jakes in Somerville." —Lauren [24:50]
• Potential for Collaboration:
  • Opportunities for community-building and cross-promotion anticipated.

Lessons for Civic Engagement and Leadership

[25:08 – 32:57]

• Key Takeaways for Human Leaders:
  • Meaningful engagement requires "getting in front of your constituents and having conversations about what's impacting people's day to day lives."
    • "Everything would be so much better if people felt heard and seen… ironically that Jake can really bring." —Shani [26:45]
  • Show up, listen, foster community without an agenda (other than snacks!).
  • Recognize importance of local elections and the impact of being present and validating people’s experiences.
• The Power of Joy:
  • Dogs exemplify finding happiness and consensus in community despite differences.
    • "If we could learn something from the dogs who, who find it easy to find the things to be happy about and to build consensus upon. Right. We could all do better in that." —Lauren [30:53]
• Advice for Bringing Fun to Civic Life:
  • Partner with local businesses as community hubs.
  • Leverage existing business relationships to boost engagement and joy.
    • "So many local businesses supported Jake and his campaign...You can always build new relationships." —Shani [32:17]

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• "To know Jake is to love him." —Shani [13:49]
• "He's just there, right? Like he's just, he's just there happy to be with you. He's not pushing any agenda on anyone." —Shani [27:00]
• "We are definitely nailing the brain, bringing joy to people. And that was really what the whole thing was about." —Shani [23:06]
• "[Dogs] just want to love you. If the kibble shows up twice a day, they don't care what you screwed up at the office, they still love you." —Lauren [30:38]
• “Strong leaders delegate, right?” —Shani, on Jake napping during the interview [33:37]

Notable Segment Timestamps

• Jake’s Origin and Adoption Story: [09:18 – 12:16]
• Dog Mayor Campaign and Victory: [12:16 – 16:59]
• Core Duties & Community Impact: [16:59 – 21:04]
• Lessons in Civic Engagement & Joy: [25:08 – 32:57]
• Favorite Song as Episode Outro: [35:25]
  • Jake’s picks: "You’ve Got a Friend in Me" by Randy Newman and "Living My Best Life" by Ben Rector.

Closing Thoughts

The episode is not only a feel-good profile of Jake the Dog and the playful, community-driven mayoral campaign, but also a reflection on the importance of joy, genuine connection, and creative civic engagement in local government. Jake’s story underscores that civics can be about more than policy—it can be about play, inclusion, and showing up for one another. The lessons from Somerville’s Dog Mayor are deeply relevant for public officials, community leaders, and anyone working to strengthen civic life.

End of Summary