A dog and a goat are running for mayor in Vermont

FAIR HAVEN, VT — It’s Lincoln the goat versus Sammy the dog in the race for honorary mayor of one Vermont town.

The Nubian goat had won the post in Fair Haven, Vermont last year after the town manager came up with the pet mayor election to raise money for the community playground and to get kids involved.

“In Fair Haven, just like everywhere else, voter participation is not always as high as we want it,” said Town Manager Joe Gunter.

Resident Cheryl Daviau said the race has gotten children involved in the election process. Her granddaughter got her picture taken with the goat mayor and loved it, she said.

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In this Jan. 24, 2020, photo, Sammy, a police dog, sits in the lobby of the Fair Haven police station with Sergeant Dale Kerber, in Fair Haven, Vt. Sammy is running for honorary mayor of the town against an incumbent goat as a playground fund-raiser. (AP Photo/Lisa Rathke)

To up the ante, this year the police chief nominated K-9 Sammy, a German Shepherd, who visits local schools daily with a resource officer, attends concerts in the park and is beloved around town.

The town announced the goat would run again after police debuted Sammy’s campaign.

Both Lincoln and Sammy are popular so it could be a tight race.

“We’re definitely looking more forward to Sammy winning the race,” said Sharai Thayer, who has three kids in school. The friendly canine sits at the school when the kids are going in and out and even goes through the halls, she said.

The election is on March 3. People pay $1 to vote and a GoFundMe page has been set up to raise more funds for the playground. Last year, $200 was raised from the race, according to Gunter. Combined with other donations the town has about $10,000 of the $80,000 needed for the playground, he said.

But the race isn’t just about good PR – the position actually comes with responsibilities, said Gunter. The mayor “marches in parades, manages the playground fund, and on occasion meets with the Board of Selectmen, just to keep an eye on them,” he said by email.

Source: The Associated Press