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Town Meeting
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Fair Haven Honorary Mayor's Race Going To The Dogs ... And Goats, And Hamsters

Two photos, one of a dog and another of a goat.
Courtesy
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VPR
Lincoln the Fair Haven Mayor and challenger Sammy the German Shepherd, a member of the local police department's K9 unit. There are now 10 (nonhuman) candidates in the race, which will be decided on Town Meeting Day.

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.

A dog in a therapy jacket.
Credit Courtesy
Third-party candidate Murphy the King Charles Spaniel.

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.

One in five Vermonters is considered elderly. But what does being elderly even mean — and what do Vermonters need to know as they age? I’m looking into how aging in Vermont impacts living essentials such as jobs, health care and housing. And also how aging impacts the stuff of life: marriage, loss, dating and sex.
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