The call for a county mascot is on, and we need your help spreading the word and casting your vote! You may be wondering how we got here. Let us explain.

You see, Chesterfield is known for a lot of things: the Richmond region’s largest locality, miles and miles of trails, deep and rich history, family-friendly activities, and so much more! On May 25, 2024, Chesterfield celebrated a major milestone, marking 275 years since the county was chartered by the Virginia General Assembly. To celebrate and honor the anniversary, Chesterfield employees participated in spirit week dressing in the styles of their favorite decades, wearing their best hats, sporting their favorite team gear, and more. But the fun didn’t stop there!

During spirit week, employees were able to cast an open vote for a county mascot. From the submissions, a committee picked a top four: a raccoon, a chipmunk, a retriever, and a bear. One thing was certain, though, a high percentage of Chesterfield employees tied the mascot to our rich coal-mining history. And because of that, the committee decided that whatever mascot wins, its name will be “Cole” – you see what we did there.

This is where you come in! We need your help to pick the winning mascot. Will it be Cole, the raccoon? Cole, the chipmunk? Cole, the retriever? Or Cole, the bear? We know this is a tough choice, so to help you in your decision-making, we’ve developed some fun images and descriptions below. *These images are for visual purposes only and the descriptions are made to be fun and entertaining, yet (mostly) accurate to the behavior and traits of each animal. We will be commissioning a local artist to design the final mascot once it’s been selected. Enjoy!

Cole, the Raccoon

• Is resourceful, skillful, and adaptable
• Indulges in midnight snacks
• Distant cousin to Pocahontas’ pet raccoon, Meeko

Cole, the Chipmunk

• Is curious, adventurous, and active
• Enjoys stuffing food in his cheeks
• Small but mighty

Cole, the Retriever

• Even-tempered, affectionate, and loyal
• Motivated by food, pets and attention
• Rarely meets a stranger

Cole, the Bear

• Solitary, curious and adaptable
• Approves of the honey bear tracks ice cream
• Really loves a long winter nap

Here’s how voting will work:

• You can vote only once, so think carefully and wisely!
• Voting is open from Wednesday, June 26 through Wednesday, July 10.
• You can vote using the form below; however, there will be bonus votes available via the Experience Chesterfield Instagram account on Tuesday, July 9. Be sure to follow along there and cast your bonus votes via Instagram Stories!

Here are some of the places you might find Cole:

• Hanging with MIRV, the county’s mobile information resource vehicle.
• At county-run events, like the farmers market, Outdoor Fest, trunk-or-treat, etc.
• Other special events that showcase Chesterfield as a great place to live, work, and play.
  
  

Voting has now closed. Stay tuned for
the final announcement!

The post Cast Your Vote for the Chesterfield Mascot appeared first on Experience Chesterfield.