Election

Election is the sixteenth story arc of IDW Publishing's, spanning issues #46 and #47. In the story, Filthy Rich runs against Mayor Mare for mayor of Ponyville, sparking the town's first election to occur in years.

Issue #46
The story begins with Mayor Mare and the ponies of Ponyville at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new playground, which has been built on land donated to the city by the Apple family. As Starlight Glimmer expresses to her friends how well the mayor is at her job, a sudden earthquake collapses the land beneath the playground, destroying it.

Some time later, Mayor Mare calls for a town meeting to address the ponies' concerns about the earthquake. Granny Smith is particularly upset that the land her family donated to the city was destroyed as soon as the mayor started building on it, and other ponies are worried that another earthquake might occur. Mayor Mare tries to assure the ponies that they can prepare for such an eventuality, but before long, they start to question the reliability and effectiveness of her administration. Proposing that a change in government is in order, Filthy Rich steps forward and announces his candidacy for mayorship of Ponyville.

The next day, Twilight Sparkle and her friends get together for a pancake breakfast at the Castle of Friendship to discuss this development. Applejack expresses how much the town's politics were in need of some conflict and debate, and Starlight's friends explain to her that there has not been a mayoral election in Ponyville in years—Mayor Mare is so good at her job, she has always run unopposed. As Twilight suggests helping Mayor Mare with her reelection campaign, the ponies start to consider who they will vote for; some of them are even leaning toward Filthy Rich. Twilight is concerned about such a divide, but Applejack assures her that "friends can disagree and still be friends".

At town hall, Mayor Mare's staff is more panicked than Twilight expected, considering this is the first time in a while that she has had an opponent. Mayor Mare remains calm through all the chaos, and she is even more thrilled when Twilight volunteers to help. Meanwhile, Rarity volunteers to help with Filthy Rich's campaign, but he assures her—while also insensitively dismissing her—that his campaign staff is sufficient enough. A short while later, he delivers a speech to the Pegasus voters; while he earns the majority vote, Fluttershy's concerns go unheard.

By the time of the first mayoral debate, several other ponies have also decided to run for mayor: Time Turner, Cheerilee, and Lyra Heartstrings. When asked how they would improve the lives of Ponyville's citizens, the first three candidates each offer uninspiring answers. Mayor Mare says she would focus on what Ponyville needs rather than what it wants, but Filthy Rich makes decadent promises like a hoofball stadium, a new concert hall, golf courses, and more.

Several days later, Mayor Mare confides in Twilight that the election is wearing her out—rather than focus on helping Ponyville, she is spending all of her time shaking hooves and kissing babies. Twilight tells her that, regardless of how the election ends, it will all be over soon. Before long, voting day arrives, and the ponies line up at the Castle of Friendship to cast their votes. When the votes are tallied, Filthy Rich is declared the new mayor of Ponyville.

As Filthy Rich gives his first mayoral address, he promises a whole new Ponyville and that disasters like the earthquake that destroyed the playground will never happen again. Just then, another earthquake strikes, destroying the land under a nearby cottage.

Quotes

 * Starlight Glimmer: She certainly seems to do a good job as mayor...
 * Twilight Sparkle: Oh, absolutely! She's faced all sorts of calamities and crises while I've been here—and there's nothing she can't handle!
 * [rumble rumble RUMBLE]
 * [FLOOP]
 * Twilight Sparkle: ...Except, perhaps, that.


 * Mayor Mare: We can't prevent anything bad from ever happening! Sometimes, all we can do is fix things and make sure it doesn't happen again!


 * Filthy Rich: I, Filthy Rich, am running for mayor of Ponyville!


 * Starlight Glimmer: There hasn't been an election here for years?!
 * Spike: Kinda like your city, huh?


 * Pinkie Pie: I'm voting for whoever can promise the most waffles!


 * Mayor Mare: Filthy Rich is a savvy businesspony, and I'm sure he'll run a smart campaign. But ultimately, I think the voters will choose the pony that's right for Ponyville. Even if that pony may not be me!


 * Filthy Rich: I want everypony to know I'm the right choice for Ponyville! I've got an important message to spread!
 * Rarity: And that message is?
 * Filthy Rich: "Vote for me!"


 * Wonk Politico: First question, candidates: how would you improve the lives of Ponyville's citizens? Cheerilee, let's begin with you.
 * Cheerilee: I'd like to triple our education budget! Of course, we'll need to triple our taxes to pay for it, but our schools are worth it!
 * Wonk Politico: Time Turner?
 * Time Turner: Well! Whenever one considers the question of civic improvements, one must invariably confront the problem of the multitudinous interests of the electorate! Shall we attempt to choose a project that satisfies as much of the citizenry as possible? Or do we attempt to find the group whose needs have gone most unmet and satisfy their specific concerns?
 * Wonk Politico: Miss Heartstrings?
 * Lyra Heartstrings: More benches.


 * Filthy Rich: There's gonna be a whole lotta changes around Ponyville! I want to make this town bigger and better than ever! This administration's going to be dynamic! Aggressive! Forward-thinking! You're going to see a whole new Ponyville!
 * [rumble rumble rumble]
 * Filthy Rich: And let me promise—disasters like the earthquake that destroyed the playground will never happen again!
 * [RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE]
 * [FLOOP]
 * Filthy Rich: ...Starting now.