Standing at a whopping 38 inches, miniature horse Chico Suave is the newly elected 2024 Pet Mayor of Corrales. 

The announcement was made just before the pet parade Sept. 29, at Corrales Elementary School on the second day of the Harvest Festival. Wendell the goat participated in the parade and ceremoniously passed the torch to the newly elected pet mayor.

“It’s just a really fun way to raise money and the village really steps up,” Tracy Stabenow, pet mayor election coordinator, said.

The event raised about $3,000, all of which will go to Corrales Animal Services and the election was “very close,” according to Stabenow.

Pati Zaccaria walks with the newly elected pet mayor, Chico Suave, at the Corrales Harvest Festival Pet Parade on Sept. 29. (Jesse Jones/Corrales Comment)

As part of Chico Suave’s victory, the Village Mercantile has donated food and treats for the duration of his term as pet mayor. In addition, they created custom gift baskets for every candidate in the election.

In keeping with tradition, all the animals on the ballot were awarded honorary titles. 

The runner-up, Ted the dog has been appointed as the new village pet judge, while Armadilla the dog, also known as Dilla, takes on the role of the village’s pet fire chief. Marley, also a dog, is the director of barks and recreation and Benson the dog will serve as the pet director of public works. Mae the dog is the new pet village clerk, Shelby the dog has been named pet police chief, George the guinea pig is the new village pet administrator and Cheddar the goat is the pet mayor pro tem.

At the end of the parade, Chico Suave and his owners, David and Pati Zaccaria, mingled with Corraleños, happily taking selfies with their fans.

The Harvest Fest, organized by the Kiwanis Club of Corrales, was “perfect” and everything had a good flow with “great attendance,” said Lane McIntyre, chairman of the Corrales Harvest Fest. 

“The only downside to the festival was the heat, which was beyond anyone’s control,” McIntyre said. 

The heat didn’t deter the thousands of visitors who came to the village to celebrate its rich history.

The Pet Parade at the Corrales Harvest Festival also featured characters from “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” (Jesse Jones/Corrales Comment)

They enjoyed riding through the village on the “not-so-rapid transit,” making stops at notable landmarks like the Old San Ysidro Church, where the Corrales Historical Society offered a glimpse into the past. Casa San Ysidro featured the crowd-favorite pie walk, while the Corrales Fire Station allowed visitors to check out the fire trucks on display and chat with firefighters.