Eckerd students will elect their very first pet president on Friday, and results will be announced at the ECOS town hall Feb. 23 in Fox Hall at 6:30 p.m.
With elections just a hop, skip and a jump away, Eckerd is buzzing with emails, posters, tablings, and hollers across the sidewalk for pet presidential campaigns. Last week, a call was put out for pets of high morals, regal and diplomatic pets willing to bravely serve the Eckerd community for the 2026-2027 school year. The pet could be any species. They just have to be registered and present next school year. Who will win? It’s im-pawssible to predict!
“I’m so excited to start this tradition to highlight all of the adorable pets on our campus,” said ECOS President Emma Kelliher, senior political science and literature major. “Why wouldn’t one of the most pet friendly campuses in the country have a pet president?”
Inspired by local pet mayor elections, Triton Publications, ECOS and Pet Life joined forces to form a new Eckerd tradition to precede ECOS executive elections: Pet President. The main duties of this position consist of being loved by campus and boosting morale at school events. Fifteen students signed up their pet to run, representing nine different species, and it looks like it’s going to be a close race.
Let’s meet our candidates:
[Candidates are listed in order of declared candidacy. Declared political parties do not necessarily reflect the values of human political parties.]
Shrimp Nation
Shrimp
Political party: Independent
Owner: Maryanna Di Somma
Fun fact: It’s blue
Thor and Hercules
Cockatiels
Political party: The Birdicrats
Owner: Sara Coyne
Fun fact: They sing songs of our nation
Franklin
Teddy Bear Hamster
Political party: Democrats
Owner: Brooklynne Case
Fun fact: He loves to travel and fly on airplanes
“He’s small but mighty. He knows what the pet community needs, and he’s very cute,” said Case.
Taylor
Betta Fish
Political party: Independent
Owner: Julianna Keane
Fun fact: His name comes from Taylor Swift who wore a dress called the “betta fish dress” on the Eras Tour that matched his colors perfectly.
“He loves people and is a very active little guy. He also loves to play and typically has at least one toy in his tank at all times,” said Keane.
Nellie
Quaker Parakeet
Political party: Democats
Owner: Lydia Cox
Fun fact: Nellie’s favorite snack is Mott’s applesauce. He will go as far to take a pouch out of your hands just to get some!
“He’s outspoken (he loves to talk, he will play peek-a-boo and ask to step up), BUT he will also listen to you. In the end, he’s just a big softy who loves to cuddle,” said Cox.
Marley May
Lynx point cat
Political party: Democats
Owner: Lilly Howe
Fun fact: He doesn’t like any other human food besides cheese.
“Marley would make a great pet president because in any room or public space he enters, he already is running the show and acts like he’s in charge. He will listen to you, but sometimes he will purposely ignore you,” said Howe.”
Tano
Poodle
Political party: The Pawgressives
Owner: Katie Lee
Fun fact: She is a mom of seven.
“Tano is very friendly and always willing to give free cuddles, but she will take the needs of the animals and humans on campus seriously,” said Lee.
Scooter JonQuantavius III
Bearded dragon
Political party: Reptile party (democrats)
Owner: Izzy Williams
Fun fact: “Hillary Clinton is his biological mother (she’s a lizard person),” wrote Williams.
Koshka
Brown tabby cat
Political party: Coalition of underappreciated pets
Owner: Damien Dowling
Fun fact: She loves sunbathing and napping.
“No pet left behind! Fighting for the forgotten and underappreciated pets with no parks, events or group chats,” said Dowling.
Yoshi
Black cat
Political party: Yoshi does not affiliate with a political party. He is running for the pets, not the people.
Owner: Rose Irwin
Fun fact: You can see Yoshi patrolling around the Kappa backyard by the skate ramp, keeping an eye on his community and rolling in the catnip plant.
Bun Bun
Holland lop
Political party: Democats
Owner: Grace Holl
Fun fact: She knows how to lift a grate, gets in and out of a duct system smoothly and loves to do binkies.
“Bun Bun would be a good president for Eckerd because she will stand up for the rights of vegetables by providing excellent fertilizer for the compost, and advocate for the environmental quality of a healthy land. As well as being a good judge of character by thumping if there is disapproval,” said Holl.
Gabby
Calico cat
Political party: Democats
Owner: Ava Wozniak
Fun fact: She is very friendly and loves catnip.
Beau
Schnoodle
Political party: Repuplicans
Owner: Gabriella Levy
Fun fact: He loves to wear sweaters and go for walks.
Honey
Golden retriever
Political party: Honey is a democat and wants to increase equity for all!
Owner: Naomi Herbst
Fun fact: Honey is a failed service dog with selective hearing! She loves peanut butter and butt scratches!
Panko
Bunny
Political party: Fluffypendents
Owner: Abigail Christman
Fun fact: Panko knows tricks!
Voting begins 9 a.m. Friday and will close at 5 p.m. It will be conducted via Google Form sent to the Eckerd student body.
“I also hope this tradition gets more students engaged and excited for ECOS elections coming up in March,” said Kelliher. “Maybe from this election, one pet owner gains the courage to run for ECOS!”