US town elects goat as 'mayor'

In a divided America where politics seems increasingly to get people's goat, a small town in Vermont has taken the concept to heart -- this week electing one as mayor.

He may be a political novice but the goat's name, Lincoln, brings with it a storied pedigree.

And the leading human official in Fair Haven -- population about 2,500 -- hopes the long-eared, three-year-old animal's election can serve as a bit of a lesson in democracy.

In Tuesday's poll, Lincoln was victorious over 15 other candidates including Crystal the gerbil and many dogs and cats.

Fair Haven has no official mayor but the Town Manager, Joseph Gunter, holds similar functions.

When Gunter read in a newspaper that the village of Omena, Michigan, had made Sweet Tart the cat its "top" official, he got the idea to organize a similar election to raise funds for building a playground.

Lincoln's 13 votes were enough for him to squeak past Sammie the dog.

The goat, which belongs to a school math teacher, has one-year mandate and will represent the town in many festivals it holds during the time.

Although the playground fundraising effort only generated about $100, Gunter isn't bleating because he says the animal election was also "a good way to get the kids involved in local government."