It started with an incumbent goat. Then a canine challenger. And now Fair Haven's honorary mayor race could be any animal's game, perhaps a horse's, or even a hamster's.
Lincoln the goat was elected last year in a tongue-and-cheek effort by Fair Haven Town Manager Joe Gunter to spur voter participation, get kids more aware of local politics and raise money for a new school playground.
The story made headlines well beyond Vermont.
“Ah, Mayor Lincoln, yup ... she’s a Nubian goat and she’s done a wonderful job," Gunter said. "Very personable goat, easygoing, very willing to take selfies with anybody who asks.”
But this year, she's got competition. Challenging the incumbent is Sammy, a German Shepherd in the local police department's K-9 unit.
"This is a clean race," Gunter said. "There’s no mud being thrown, but the police department thought maybe Sammy the K9 could do a better job at raising funds and get more kids out to vote."
At Town Meeting, Gunter said voters can pay a dollar to vote on the honorary mayor's race, and the local elementary school is holding its own election. A GoFundMe page has raised more than a $1,000 for the playground.
As to who’ll win?
"You know what, I don’t know," Gunter admitted. "It’s pretty tight right now. So we have a third-party contender, Murphy, who’s having a bake sale over at the Shaws on the 22nd, and Murphy’s getting a lot of attention right now. So it’s anybody’s race.”
Murphy, a King Charles Spaniel, is campaigning on her therapy dog credentials. But seven other ambitious critters, including Campy the horse and Gumball the hamster, are also in the race.
