Ecuador officials reject donkey as candidate

Published - Nov 16 2012 01:23PM CST

Associated Press

(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

People lead a donkey named "Mr. Donkey" to the National Electoral Council in hopes of registering him to run for a seat on the National Assembly in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Thursday, Nov. 15 2012. Daniel Molina, leader of the Mr. Donkey support group, said his group's goal was to raise awareness among voters about the seriousness of the National Assembly elections and the importance of choosing effective candidates. Although Mr. Donkey didn't get on the ballot for the Feb. 17, 2012 elections, supporters threw confetti and banged on drums to express their continued support. (AP Photo/Diario Expreso)

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — The demand of dozens of citizens has been denied in the Ecuadorean city of Guayaquil: There will be no jackass running for the legislature.
At least 40 people paraded their candidate through the city's streets to the electoral council offices. Mr. Burro even wore a tie. But officials refused to even let them in the door on Thursday, even though backers had dummied up a mock voter registration card showing the candidate's photo superimposed on a man wearing a business suit.

Donkey backer Daniel Molina told local television stations the goal was to call voters' attention to the seriousness of the February election, not to insult any party.