Russel is Mayor Appleberry's long-suffering assistant, and the author of all of his speeches. Despite his great talent for speech-writing and general important political business, he's held back by his crippling fear of public speaking and crowds. Thus, he works in the shadows, no doubt helping Appleberry win each time. He's the nervous, quiet brains behind the whole operation.

A big leopard hiding behind a little guinea pig might look silly, but they make it work, despite the odd hiccup where Appleberry reads his cues out loud at rallies. Russel only faints a little bit when that happens...