5-year-old mayor loses re-election to 16-year-old

The mayor in a tiny town in Minnesota has lost his re-election to a 16-year-old, and he was only 5.

Robert "Bobby" Tufts lost his bid as mayor of Dorset, Minnesota. 16-year-old Eric Mueller won when his name was drawn from the ballot box during the annual Taste of Dorset festival. This would have been Bobby's third consecutive term.

Bobby was first elected mayor in 2012 when he was only 3. Dorset has no formal city government and a population ranging from nine to 28.

"It was fun, but it's time to pass on the vote," Bobby told The Associated Press by telephone Monday. Then he suggested his little brother get a shot at some point: "I'm gonna let James do it. He's 2."

People can vote as many times as they like in the election for $1 a vote and the proceeds go toward organizing the festival.

His mother, Emma Tufts, said family members joked about having Bobby and her other son James build up an impressive political resume to prepare for a presidential election in 2048. But his mother says she's happy that Bobby will get a break. Now he can catch candy at parades rather than be the one throwing it.

"He really enjoyed being a kid in some festivals, not having to perform," she said.

Bobby said he was proud of his efforts to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House Charities in Fargo, North Dakota.

One of his other major acts was to declare ice cream top of the food pyramid.

Eric, the high school junior and now new mayor, said he came up with the idea to run after he ate five fried ice creams at one sitting.