The nation’s mustachioed men have found a new hero: Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson.

The mayor’s “barely there” mustache is being honored by the American Mustache Institute. Johnson is a finalist for the institute’s “Robert Goulet Memorial Mustached American of the Year” award. He faces 18 other finalists.

Yes, the American Mustache Institute exists. And, no, the institute does not take itself seriously.

Aaron Perlut, the chair of the institute’s board, said Johnson’s efforts in the areas of athletics, public service and education make him “an ideal candidate for the award.”

The public will vote online to decide the winner of the contest. The winner will be announced Dec. 4.

Johnson’s competitors include North Dakota Governor John Hoeven, filmmaker Morgan Spurlock and Minnesota Twins pitcher Carl Pavano.

The institute’s purpose is to defend mustaches from a hostile public. Its slogan is: “Protecting the rights of, and fighting discrimination against, mustached Americans by promoting the growth, care, and culture of the mustache.”

As a columnist for the London Telegraph newspaper wrote in 2007, “In a recent poll, more than half of American women said that they would refuse to kiss a man with a moustache.” Mustaches tend to be identified with 1970s pop culture, an era that also produced the leisure suit and disco.

Johnson said he is not the only one who faces mustache discrimination at City Hall.

“Maybe that explains why Councilmember Cohn and I really take a beating during council,” he said in an e-mail.

You can vote for Johnson and check out his competitors’ mustaches here.

Goulet, the deceased singer for whom the mustache award is named, had a dashing ’stache.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.