Dan Phillips is a 30-something bartender who lives and works in the ordinary city of Wessex. Dan's had the same friends since grade school, his most prized possession is a vintage Ms. Pac-Man game and his last serious relationship was with a girl who is now engaged to someone else. His life seems to be firmly on the path to more of the same... until a chance comment suddenly puts him in the running for mayor of Wessex.
Dan Phillips is now – almost on purpose – the Mayor of Wessex. He ran on a whim and was elected by default. Dan's first term has started and he is unprepared, unqualified and in way over his head.
This season, Dan gets himself in trouble with the Chief of Police, a neighbouring mayor and a dodgy Ethics Commissioner. Meanwhile on the personal front, Dan haplessly navigates his way through his relationship with Claire while attempting to have a not-too-weird friendship with Claire's ex, Mike. Dan also struggles to find time to have a beer with his old pal Jeff, the new owner of Fern's Bar and Grill.