20-pound carp's bid for Ann Arbor City Council goes belly up

(UPI) -- Politics might be a fishy business, but not enough to get a 20-pound carp elected to the City Council in Ann Arbor, Mich., as part of a write-in campaign.

Even though the clever carp was able to run a Twitter campaign, it wasn’t enough to defeat John Eaton, who won handily.

My crack squad of electoral ninjas has fanned out to polling places around the Fourth Ward. pic.twitter.com/NIvhz8V2mQ

— Twenty Pound Carp (@TwentyPoundCarp) November 5, 2013

Touted as a “grass roots Ann Arbor local politician” and a “bottom feeder,” the 20-pound carp may have received as many as 209 write-in votes.

Eaton was gracious about welcoming his aquatic opponent into the race. “I have a sense of humor and I think it’s funny. I consider a 20-pound carp to be a substantial opponent and I wish him the best,” Eaton said.

The big fish thanked his supporters following his defeat and congratulated Eaton.

I need to thank my advisors, including Shelly the beatboxing turtle and John Quackles, the duck who served as legal counsel.

— Twenty Pound Carp (@TwentyPoundCarp) November 6, 2013

I know my opponent shares my abiding love for Ann Arbor. I look forward to his term. I hope he will dare to be weird, if only on occasion.

— Twenty Pound Carp (@TwentyPoundCarp) November 6, 2013