After a spat with some garbage men, Homer decides to run for the position of Sanitation Commissioner. He takes on the current commissioner, Ray Patterson, who is endorsed by the members of U2, and wins the election by making wild campaign promises. As the new Sanitation Commissioner, Homer tries to institute policies such as around-the-clock service, shiny new uniforms for garbage men, and free car washes. Homer's initiatives are so costly that he spends an entire year's budget in one month, and must raise money by allowing other towns to use Springfield's abandoned mines as garbage dumps. With trash forcing its way up through the ground and overrunning Springfield, the townspeople beg Ray Patterson to return to his job. Patterson refuses. As a last resort, the entire town of Springfield is moved to another tract of land fives miles away.