Americana: It's No Honor to Be Hizzoner

The hill folks of Coalton, W. Va. (pop. 234), have had a little problem finding a mayor. Last June the town had to cancel its regular election because no candidate came forward. One reason: candidates must pay a filing fee of $50, but the job itself pays only $100 annually. West Virginia's secretary of state, A. James Manchin, ordered a write-in vote, but the winner resigned two weeks after his election. Then Manchin instructed the town council to appoint a mayor, but the man it picked was thought to be too bossy, and the council pressured him into resigning. Recently Coalton...

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