# Dan for Mayor

Dan for Mayor is a Canadian television sitcom starring Fred Ewanuick that debuted on March 1, 2010 on CTV and The Comedy Network. It premiered the same night as Hiccups, a show created by Corner Gas star Brent Butt that also features fellow Corner Gas alumna Nancy Robertson. On June 7, 2010, both Dan for Mayor and Hiccups were renewed for a second season. The second season premiered on June 5, 2011. Neither show was renewed for a third season.

## Premise

The series stars Ewanuick as Dan Phillips, a slacker in his early 30s, who finds himself running for mayor of Wessex, a fictional city in Ontario, in the 2010 municipal elections, after a chance comment to his ex-girlfriend. When his opponent, incumbent mayor Bud, is hit by a bus and killed, Dan becomes the only mayoral candidate whereupon he reopens the candidacy for a fair race. In the show's second season, Dan takes office as the city's new mayor, finding himself woefully unprepared for the job.
The cast also included Mary Ashton, Paul Bates, Benjamin Ayres, Laurie Murdoch, David Ferry, Suzanne Coy, Agam Darshi, and Lara Jean Chorostecki.
The show also featured several cameo appearances by real-life mayors of Ontario cities, including Carl Zehr, Brenda Halloran, and David Miller.

## Filming locations

The series' location shooting took place in Kitchener, Waterloo, Ontario, and Hamilton, Ontario; recognizable locations include Kitchener City Hall (as Wessex City Hall) and the Huether Hotel (as Fern's Grill, Dan's workplace).

## Episodes
### Season 1 (2010)

| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code |
| 1 | "The Blind Spot" | Ron Murphy | Mark Farrell, Paul Mather & Kevin White | March 1, 2010 (2010-03-01) | 101 |
| After hearing that his ex-girlfriend is now engaged to another man, Dan tries to impress her by saying that he's running for mayor. Stuck with his lie, he now has to start a campaign. Unfortunately, he's new to the politics business, and has a lot to learn. ||||||
| 2 | "Enter Wheel-O" | Brian Roberts | Mark Farrell, Paul Mather & Kevin White | March 8, 2010 (2010-03-08) | 102 |
| Dan begins his campaign for mayor, but soon discovers that his friends have reservations about his political aspirations. Cameo appearance: Carl Zehr (Mayor of the City of Kitchener) ||||||
| 3 | "Once More With Feline" | Brian Roberts | Mark Farrell, Paul Mather & Kevin White | March 15, 2010 (2010-03-15) | 103 |
| Claire considers getting involved with Dan, or at least with his campaign, but only if he comes clean about an accident he had with a cat. Cameo appearance: Brenda Halloran (Mayor of the City of Waterloo) ||||||
| 4 | "Inside the War Room" | Ron Murphy | Mark Farrell, Paul Mather & Kevin White | March 22, 2010 (2010-03-22) | 104 |
| Dan decides he needs a campaign office to give himself credibility, meanwhile Claire struggles with a potential conflict of interest stemming from one of Mike's deals. Guest appearance: Greta and Janet Podleski ||||||
| 5 | "An Engagement in Hell" | Ron Murphy | Mark Farrell, Paul Mather & Kevin White | March 29, 2010 (2010-03-29) | 105 |
| Dan and Jeff attempt to gain the backing of a conservative business while Claire holds her engagement party. ||||||
| 6 | "A Cruel Mattress" | Brian Roberts | Mark Farrell, Paul Mather & Kevin White | April 5, 2010 (2010-04-05) | 106 |
| Dan and Jeff are busy campaigning when they are bullied by a mascot advertising mattresses who claims their spot on the sidewalk. ||||||
| 7 | "The Symbol of Futility" | Brian Roberts | Mark Farrell, Paul Mather & Kevin White | April 12, 2010 (2010-04-12) | 107 |
| Dan decides he needs a campaign symbol, but accidentally ends up with an ice scraper. ||||||
| 8 | "The Disc Compact" | Ron Murphy | Mark Farrell, Paul Mather & Kevin White | April 19, 2010 (2010-04-19) | 108 |
| Dan and Jeff get their hands on the campaign platform of their main opponent, but face a moral dilemma. ||||||
| 9 | "The Podium Conundra" | Ron Murphy | Mark Farrell, Paul Mather & Kevin White | April 26, 2010 (2010-04-26) | 109 |
| Jeff has trouble convincing the other mayoral candidates that Dan should take part in the upcoming televised debate. ||||||
| 10 | "Revenge is Swifty" | Brian Roberts | Mark Farrell, Paul Mather & Kevin White | June 7, 2010 (2010-06-07) | 110 |
| While taking part in the candidates' debate, Alan gets embroiled in a career-ending muffin issue. Jeff risks trouble at his own work. Guest appearance: David Miller ||||||
| 11 | "A Cleanse Getaway" | Paul Mather | Mark Farrell, Paul Mather & Kevin White | June 14, 2010 (2010-06-14) | 111 |
| Dan gets some unexpected help in the campaign that gets both him and Jeff into hot water; Claire deals with the fall-out from her decision about the wedding. ||||||
| 12 | "A Date with Vengeance" | Kevin White | Mark Farrell, Paul Mather & Kevin White | June 21, 2010 (2010-06-21) | 112 |
| With days to go before the election and hardly a "Dan for Mayor" lawn sign in sight, Dan gets some help on the campaign trail. Jeff gives Claire career advice. ||||||
| 13 | "The Return of Wheel-O" | Ron Murphy | Mark Farrell, Paul Mather & Kevin White | June 28, 2010 (2010-06-28) | 113 |
| On election day, Dan finds himself embroiled in a race with an unexpected competitor. Season finale. Guest appearance: John Wilson ||||||

### Season 2 (2011)

| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code |
| 14 | "A Rink By Any Other Name" | Ron Murphy | Mark Farrell, Paul Mather & Kevin White | June 5, 2011 (2011-06-05) | 201 |
| With the town of Wessex knowing that Dan didn't really win the election, Dan decides to show his leadership by naming the new arena after a local hockey great, but is dismayed to find that it's already been named for a recently deceased annoying philanthropist. Claire makes the decision to stay in Wessex rather than move to Vancouver, and starts up her own PR company. ||||||
| 15 | "The Trash Compact" | Ron Murphy | Jenn Engels | June 12, 2011 (2011-06-12) | 202 |
| With recycling in mind, Dan tries to revamp the garbage system already in place in Wessex; he makes a deal with a nearby city, but finds that politics is a trickier business than he had been led to believe. ||||||
| 16 | "Awkward Speedoo" | David Weaver | Carolyn Taylor | June 19, 2011 (2011-06-19) | 203 |
| With the city budget in mind, Dan cuts the police department's request for 50 Speedoos – personal mobility devices – and gets himself on the wrong side of the law when the Chief of Police finds out that he won't be getting his new toys. Dan, and everyone he knows, suddenly find themselves the subject of police scrutiny; Dan must turn to Mike and his mustache for help. ||||||
| 17 | "Claire 2.0" | Brian Roberts | Carolyn Taylor | June 26, 2011 (2011-06-26) | 204 |
| While trying to figure out how to spin a raise in taxes, Dan accidentally misspells a word at a spelling bee. Mike tries to make Claire jealous with similar girls. ||||||
| 18 | "Mayors' Conference" | Paul Mather | Paul Mather & Mark De Angelis | July 3, 2011 (2011-07-03) | 205 |
| Dan tries to fit in at a mayors' conference held in Wessex. Mike and Jeff compete to be Claire's go-to friend. ||||||
| 19 | "Insane In The Bike Lane" | Ron Murphy | Mark Farrell, Paul Mather & Kevin White | July 10, 2011 (2011-07-10) | 206 |
| Dan and Mike square off for the right to bicycle and rollerblade on city streets. Fern starts to sell nonalcoholic beer when the bar's liquor license is revoked. ||||||
| 20 | "The Art Of Gambling" | Paul Mather | Carolyn Taylor | July 17, 2011 (2011-07-17) | 207 |
| Dan hires an artist (Eric Peterson), to make a sculpture that will put Wessex on an art tour. Claire pretends to be a recovered problem gambler to get a client, and Mike becomes a problem gambler when Fern's gets a VLT. ||||||
| 21 | "Pot Divorce" | Brian Roberts | Mark Farrell, Paul Mather & Kevin White | July 24, 2011 (2011-07-24) | 208 |
| Dan makes an appearance at Fern's marijuana rally, and reveals he hasn't taken part, causing Fern to become upset with Dan. Mike deals with Claire's parents separating, and Claire is worried Dan needs space away from her. ||||||
| 22 | "Political Liability" | David Weaver | Tim Mcauliffe | July 31, 2011 (2011-07-31) | 209 |
| Dan appears at several mayor functions with Claire, where she embarrasses him by talking about herself. Mike convinces Jeff that Dan isn't spending valuable time with him, and abusing their relationship. ||||||
| 23 | "Old Fort Wessex" | Kevin White | Kevin White, Tim Polley & Matt Doyle | August 7, 2011 (2011-08-07) | 210 |
| The employees of Fort Wessex ask for more funding from the City, which Dan counters with lay-offs. Jeff tries to convince Fern there is a tunnel from the bar to the fort. ||||||
| 24 | "Mayor for a Day" | Ron Murphy | Jenn Engels | August 14, 2011 (2011-08-14) | 211 |
| A student from the high school becomes a mayor for the day, and the day quickly turns into a competition between the two. Claire tries to convince herself, and others, she is busy. Jeff and Fern earn the bar the title best bar in Wessex. ||||||
| 25 | "Ethical Dilemma" | Ron Murphy | Mark Farrell | August 21, 2011 (2011-08-21) | 212 |
| Dan deals with an unethical ethics commissioner, and Claire wants to use her relationship with the mayor to get a client. Jeff and Fern compete to be the best in customer service. ||||||
| 26 | "Porktoberfest" | Ron Murphy | Jenn Engels & Mark De Angelis | August 28, 2011 (2011-08-28) | 213 |
| After Wessex is named the fattest city in Ontario, and Dan reveals that he is a vegetarian, controversy is caused when Dan can not eat a bratwurst for a pork festival. Claire struggles to keep vegetarian for Dan. Guest appearance: Derek McGrath as Pork Council Chairman ||||||

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Presenter | Award | Work | Result |
| 2010 | Gemini Awards | Best Comedy Program or Series | Dan for Mayor | Nominated |
| 2011 | Canadian Comedy Awards | Best Performance By an Ensemble - Television | Fred Ewanuick, Mary Ashton, Paul Bates, Benjamin Ayres, David Ferry - Dan for Mayor, Episode 110 ("Revenge is Swifty") | Nominated |