SHE’S RIGHT.

ZOOTOPIA IS THE PLACE TO “TRY EVERYTHING”.

AND WE'VE GOT OUR PAW ON THE PULSE OF THE LATEST NEWS, ENTERTAINMENT AND BUSINESS TO GET YOU STARTED.

"OUR CITY IS THE EMBODIMENT OF EMPATHY”: INTERVIEW WITH HERB H. HORSE, MAYOR OF ZOOTOPIA

BY LEAH PARD

The political landscape of Zootopia’s past has been shaky, to say the least. But what a difference a year can make. That’s how long Herb H. Horse has been at the helm; since his election in 2017, he has sought to improve the city’s infrastructure from the ground up. Though it’s at times a daunting task, he says the city has had what it needs to rebuild all along—he’s just aiding the search. I caught up with Herb at Le Lapin Et Le Pain Bakery.

YOU STARTED OUT AS A POLICE OFFICER, RIGHT?

That seems to be a common misconception, and one that you’re forgiven for making, for multiple reasons. One, I do have a long history with the ZPD. I was an officer for about five years; it was a great time in my life. Two, I’ve always found public service extremely fulfilling, which is what propelled me to my first real job—I was an Emergency Management Specialist, responsible for drawing up city-wide plans for natural, and occasionally mammal-made, disasters. I started my internship when Leodore Lionheart was first elected, and eventually got a full-time position. I did that for a few years, and then moved on.

WHAT FUELED YOUR INTEREST IN PUBLIC SERVICE?

My parents are responsible for that. My father spent his entire career with the ZFD; my mother was a nurse at Zootopia General. When I was a colt, sometimes it seemed like every day was ‘Take Your Son To Work Day’. That was by design, because, to them, it was; they felt very strongly that I should understand the plights of others and strive to help them. They’re both retired now, but those lessons stuck.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE TRANSITIONING FROM AN EMS TO A MEMBER OF THE ZPD?

It was eye-opening, to be sure. EMS is essentially a desk job, so I found out fairly quickly that it wasn’t for me. That said, I have no regrets, because I could see the big picture, and was proud of the work I was doing. That’s what kept me going. I realized that fieldwork is more my speed.

I think both my parents were hoping that I’d follow in their respective footsteps, but I wanted to try something different. At that point, I applied to the ZPA. As it turns out, I made the right choice. Granted, police officers face some of the most grueling fieldwork out there, but it’s also among the most rewarding.

Eventually I came to a point where I wasn’t in the best place. Physically, I was at the top of my game, but mentally—it took a toll on me. I’m an optimist, but when you’re in that line of work long enough, it’s going to get to you. I turned in my badge and decided to look for my next adventure. In some ways leaving was a relief, but I was also sorry to see it go. The ZPD is such a wonderful team, but I was so emotionally drained that I couldn’t see myself going back there.

Fast forward to 2016, when I get a text from Ben Clawhauser. Ben is the ZPD dispatcher, but he was also my college roommate; we both went to Dartmouse; it used to be an all-rodent school, but we were there shortly after they opened a campus for larger mammals. I was a sophomore, Ben was a freshcub. He’s a great guy.

We’d kept in touch on social media occasionally, exchanged Crittermess cards; I hadn’t seen him in years, but I still thought of him fondly. So Ben reached out to me—through Muzzlebook Messenger, actually--and basically said, ‘Bogo’s been in an accident, we need someone to step in for a bit. Are you up for it?’

I knew right away that I’d accept. A small side note about Ben: He is truly kind—and one-of-a- kind. While it was obvious that he was under no small amount of stress that day in the aftermath, he still made a point of adding, “We could really use your smiling face around here.” If I’d had any doubts, that would’ve ended them. I have so much respect for Ben, and it was so gratifying to realize that the feeling is mutual.

WHEN YOU'RE WORKING IN AN OFTEN HARROWING ENVIRONMENT, HOW DO YOU STAY HOPEFUL?

My wife inspires me. I first met her around the time of my EMS internship; she was helping run her family’s farm. Her dad was looking to expand his business opportunities, and he sent her out on reconnaissance. They’re from Bunnyburrow, so coming out to the city was somewhat of an adjustment for her.

We were both more or less married to our work at that point. I took my internship very seriously, and she was committed to helping her dad run the farm. It was a catch-22 of sorts...our similar situations meant we immediately had something in common, but that same element kept us apart for awhile.

Neither of us was in the position to pursue a relationship, but after talking to her for all of fifteen minutes, I had this sense that we belonged together. I can only speak for myself, but...It hurt to watch her walk away, yet I was truly convinced that we’d see each other again.

Clearly my instincts were telling me something, because, a few years after that, I bumped into her on a train out of Bunnyburrow. I found her to be that same determined doe I’d been smitten with back then. She was looking to give her life a makeover; while I’d fallen in love with her, she’d fallen in love with the city, and was heading back to try her paw at more artistic pursuits. She is, shall we say, a mistress of the arts!

But her highest priority was to find someone with integrity, and turns out I had that. In many ways, said working conditions have brought us closer together, but that’s a testament to her. It is not easy to be in that supportive role. I’ve been eternally grateful for that. Yet none of our story would be possible without my father-in-law...If he hadn’t nudged her out to the city, we might not have met at all..If we’d crossed paths some other way, she wouldn’t have looked twice at me!

L&P (those of us in the inner circle like to refer to this bakery by its initials) is her passion project. I help out however and whenever I can. It’s something we’re both very proud of.

WHAT ARE THE KEY SKILLS THAT YOU BRING TO YOUR LATEST POST?

I’m a big believer in the Zootopian motto-- anyone can be anything. I love what I do, but I’ll be the first to tell you that a career in politics isn’t for everyone. So, to answer your question—first, vision. You have to be aware of what your area needs—its strengths, its weaknesses, and how, perhaps, you can use the former to address the latter. That will help you realize how to most effectively resolve all the issues you will invariably face.

The next one is a close second; you need to be a mammals mammal. You need to enjoy—thrive, really—on the company of others. It’s so important to go out into your community and get to know your neighbors. Talk to them; listen to their stories. Get a dialogue going.

That’s what I bring to the table. But those two skills go paw-in-paw, and are best illustrated in the case of a friend. Phinneas Fairchild was my running mate. He’s extremely intelligent, warm, and very much a supporter of the city. As you know, he made the decision to resign last year; that wasn’t something he took lightly, but he felt he was in over his head, and that he couldn’t do justice to Zootopia.

HOW WERE YOU ABLE TO CONSIDER MAKING THE LEAP INTO POLITICS?

The idea really came from my time with the ZPD. They’re such a dedicated group, but—believe it or not—they’re also a bunch of party animals! All jokes aside, I started seeing a few of them socially, and that really cinched it for me. I had no desire to be an officer anymore, but I wanted to continue that impact, to touch lives in the way that these guys—and gals—were doing on a daily basis.

Nick Wilde is one of my officer friends. Not long after I announced my intention to run, he pulled me aside and said, “Hey, Chief,”--he still calls me that occasionally, even now that Bogo’s been reinstated. It’s typical Nick, and I’m honored--”are you sure you want to get into this ‘mayor’ thing? I mean, politics are the bane of my existence.’” Those few words carried a lot of weight.

You didn’t hear it from me, but Nick will go to great lengths to make one believe that he is smooth, savvy, slick—but not smart. Yet he’s all of those things and more, most of which he doesn’t give himself credit for. Suffice it to say, there’s very little he can do to surprise me; even so, I was impressed by the fact that he:

1. used the phrase ‘bane of my existence’, and

2. did so in my presence.

For him, that’s a big indicator of trust. I told Nick that yes, I was sure, because I wanted to pay it forward--continue the kindness I’d experienced at the ZPD by bringing it elsewhere. But I wouldn’t have been able to articulate my reasoning quite as well if Nick hadn’t kept me on my toes.

SOUNDS LIKE YOUR WORK WAS CUT OUT FOR YOU.

Winning the election took some adjustment. I’m not a serial politician; I’m passionate about one thing in particular: public service. Now that I’ve acclimated to my office, I understand that to some, that sounds like a cop-out, because that term covers a lot of ground. As a result of that, making the position my own was a process—figuring out how to put my goals into practice, and where to go from there. At first glance, politics can seem isolating. It’s easy to think that all of these expectations fall on your shoulders.

But that’s where community comes in. If you take stock of who’s out there and what they have to say, it gets easier. My wife has this great initiative, “Everybunny Has A Story”. Rabbits are often marginalized—written off as weak and emotional--but the minute we let them speak, we bring compassion into the equation. By inviting everyone to bring out their inner bunny, we encourage them to hear out those who know bunnyhood best.

Our city is the embodiment of empathy. Its very essence—its founding principles—make it the epitome of what it means to be a mammal of integrity. That foundation is there. It’s been buried under seemingly endless noise and negativity, but it’s there. The more we can do to tap into that inherent good, the better. I’m only a part of that. But everything I do for the city is a labor of love. It doesn’t feel like work to me.

YOU’VE MADE IT CLEAR THAT POLITICS ISN’T FOR EVERYONE, SO I’LL PHRASE MY NEXT QUESTION CAREFULLY: AS A LEADING CITIZEN OF ZOOTOPIA, WHAT DO YOU THINK WE CAN DO TO ENCOURAGE RISK-TAKING AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP?

Anyone who is out in the community, the public eye, becomes a rock star. Maybe not the musically-inclined, Mick Jaguar type, but something akin to it. I’ve caught paparazzi following me around, not to mention spotted those same pictures in celebrity magazines. Then there are the mammals who surreptitiously snap away on their smartphones. My favorites are the ones who come up and ask for selfies—autographs, even!--because then we strike up a conversation. Fameisn’t necessarily a good thing, but for me it’s helped tremendously. I’ve formed so many friendships. My renown—whether deserved or not—has furthered my cause.

Over the course of my meandering career, I’ve met mammals like Ben, Phinn, Nick, and Judy Hopps, all of whom are--to paraphrase the latter—making the world a better place through the work that they do. I’ve also befriended others who are adding value to the community in their own right by doing what they love. Hannah Snowshoe Hare is a great example.

Hannah works here at L&P as a pastry artist. She has no formal training, but she’s intensely passionate about creating art. She loves just rolling up her sleeves and going for it, combining colors, patterns, and shapes. And she loves sweets—a must when one works at a bakery! She comes to work every day with a smile on her face, and she’s off...like a kit in a candy store!

So, speaking from experience, I’d have to say—impart the value of self-reflection, We all need to ask ourselves, ‘when am I in my element? When am I the most me?’ Go from there. The more we know ourselves, the more we know when we’re in our element, and when we’re not. If we’re just working so we can get to the weekend, that’s a major investment of time with questionable returns.

I don’t have the adrenaline- jumping out of airplanes adrenaline, but I do have it for community outreach. Look into the mirror, do a gut check, and see what passion is there.

WHY DID YOU MOVE TO ZOOTOPIA?

This is another myth about the trajectory of my life—but, again, it makes sense. I’m actually a native. My notoriety as a ‘career nomad’ has given rise to the presumption that I’m a literal wayfarer as well.

So, yes, I’m a city colt, born and raised, but there was a time when I experienced a sort of culture clash that gave me a deeper appreciation of our fair city. When my wife and I decided to get married, we were debating the merits of having an elegant ceremony in the city versus a no-frills, family-oriented one on her farm. We were leaning towards the former, as certain aspects of city life spoke to each of us, and we had decided it was where we wanted to put down roots. So, we thought a city soiree would be a natural starting point for our life together.

A month or two before the wedding, we decided to do a dry run. Not a rehearsal dinner—that came later—but one to assess the feasibility of transporting her family to the event. I was looking forward to that test; I felt that my skills as an EMS would go a long way towards streamlining the process.

Generally, rabbits don’t travel in packs, but the Lapins do! Being a rookie to the family habits at that point, I didn’t account for the fact that every one of her 250-plus siblings, not to mention aunts, uncles, and cousins, would want to attend. We toyed with the idea of having them leave in small groups, but that solution proved unpopular—these guys love to stick together!

My wife and I ran interference on that day. We split the family into two groups—this time, with little dissent on their part--each led by one of us, and attempted to get them on the train in a methodical manner with as little disruption as possible. It didn’t work well, to say the least.

The excitement was palpable; my group in particular was very welcoming. I think they viewed it as a trust exercise. That’s accurate; trust was definitely maintained and strengthened. Order? Not so much.

After that, we decided to have a farm wedding. That way, my wife’s whole colony could be there. And it was more reflective of our overall values—family, friends, and celebrating the little things. Thankfully, there were no issues getting my family there!

For me, this was the takeaway from our wedding-planning incident: Most Bunnyburrowers have such large families that it’s easy to become isolated. There’s so much to do in just that one household; sometimes that scope, that stress, obscures the world beyond it. My wife experienced this disconnect growing up, and to this day she fears any crowd she’s not related to. She finds it difficult to trust them, especially when it comes to her own physical safety. For perspective: Judy once told me that, not long after she and Nick first met, she had a near-perilous encounter with a careless rhino. So for rabbits, the risk is real.

On a lighter note, but still on the subject of taking chances...At the risk of seeming ‘on my high horse’, so to speak, I think for my wife, it was gratifying to find a larger mammal who had her best interests at heart.

Younger rabbits can face challenges, too. They want to make Mom and Dad proud, they look up to their older siblings, and they do their part to help the family unit along. But at the end of the day—who are they, independent of those expectations and influences? What are their aspirations, their inspirations? Zootopia provides the potential for so many diverse narratives. That’s why I love it.

DO YOU HAVE ANY WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT OR ADVICE FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO EMULATE YOUR CAREER PATH?

This builds on what I’ve attempted to explain up to this point. No matter what field you’re in—politics, entertainment, medicine, the list goes on--you need that passion and inspiration. To find it, you need to know yourself, and express that self in the most authentic way you can. Practice honesty, kindness, understanding, and gratitude. Be genuine and giving.

WHAT’S ON THE HORIZON FOR YOU?

I’m still very much in the midst of my tenure, and I’m not one to squander present opportunities for the sake of ones that might appear down the line. I’m a live-in-the-moment kind of guy. But I’m always looking for new ideas and perspectives to bring to the forefront, so I’d like to introduce some new initiatives in the near future.

Beyond that, I don’t know. I’ll certainly enjoy some time with family and friends; maybe visit my wife’s relatives. Bunnyburrow is amazingly restorative, and it’s been ages since we’ve had a vacation. That would certainly be relaxing—I think. Every time I go there, they turn me into a workhorse! But, I quibble; I love it there. I have to earn my keep!

When I do go looking for my next adventure...I have no idea what it might be. I feel fortunate to be able to say that, at this point in my life, I’ve accomplished everything I’ve hoped to do and had a chance to—in the words of Gazelle--”try everything”.

Well, just about. There is one calling that has eluded me thus far...When I leave office, I’ll go into teaching.