Posthumously.

The world-famous mascot for the Western Slope town will run for president as a write-in candidate. A Facebook page and a website, www.miketheheadlesschicken.org, all launched this week.

As legend has it, Mike was a rooster headed to the chopping block at the Olsen farm in 1945. Mike survived the beheading and lived for another 18 months.

Scientists from the University of Utah have studied the headless chicken which was shown on a national curiosities tour and was featured by Life and Time magazines.

The city of Fruita celebrates the life of Mike during their annual Mike the Headless Chicken Festival which takes place the third weekend of May.

“Why am I running? I’m doing it for Mom and apple pie. Because we need to change the pecking order in Washington. We need to stop electing politicians who keep getting egg on their face,” Mike said in a press release.

Bumper stickers are available at the festival’s kick-off on Friday.

Kelley Griffin, Fruita Community Center fitness and special events coordinator, said the festival will also include a 5K race, free games and music. Its popularity has grown over the years. Griffin said she’s met tourists from Europe who specifically came for the festival.

The city of Fruita has a reputation for unconventional promotions. In February the city decided to ax a WTF (Welcome to Fruita) slogan that became popular with residents.

City leaders rejected the campaign saying it didn’t represent the city appropriately.