A Guy Named 'Santa Claus' Was Just Elected to North Pole City Council

Read: The Hidden Language of Mall Santas

Santa Claus has finally decided to put his down time between holiday seasons to good use and try his hand at local North Pole politics. When no candidates stepped up to fill two open spots on the North Pole City Council, Santa donned his red velvet coat, grabbed a campaign sign, and launched a write-in campaign to win himself a seat, Newsminer reports.

Santa—formerly known as Thomas Patrick O'Connor—had his name legally changed, presumably because he found the whole "being named 'Santa' and living in North Pole, Alaska" thing hilarious.

Sure, it's kind of a one-note joke, but it successfully launched his political career. Santa won his place on the six-person City Council with 58 write-in votes.

Santa will join Elyse Dawson, a youth pastor, on the Council, after Dawson won the second seat with 26 write-in votes.

"I'm really happy with the candidates we did get," North Pole City Clerk Kathy Weber told Newsminer. "I think Santa Claus and Elyse Dawson will be great."

It's cute and all, but maybe a guy who legally changed his name for a joke isn't the ideal person to be steering your local government.