佛蒙特州小镇选举出山羊镇长

杨舟

A Vermont town is hailing1 the election of its unusual new mayor： a 3-year-old Nubian goat named Lincoln.

Town Manager Joe Gunther said he decided to hold an election for an animal mayor as a means of raising money to replace a school playground.

Residents2 were given the chance to nominate3 their pets for the mayoral office in exchange for a $5 donation toward the playground cause.

Lincoln bested the second-place finisher， a dog named Sammie， by only two votes.

Gunther said Lincoln would serve a one-year term with duties including marching in the Memorial Day parade.

He said the election turned into an educational opportunity for the towns children.

“Originally we did it as a fundraiser4 to replace the playground behind the school， but it really turned into a small civic5 lesson for the children. ‘Come out and vote. Get involved in the town，” Gunther said.

佛蒙特州的一個小镇正在庆祝他们选举出的不同寻常的新镇长：一只名叫林肯的3岁的努比亚山羊。

镇上的管理人乔·冈瑟说，他决定举行一次选举，选出一位动物镇长，作为为翻新一个学校操场筹集资金的一种方式。

居民们有机会以5美元的运动场捐款，换取提名他们的宠物担任镇长办公室的职务。

林肯以两票之差击败了排名第二的候选者，一只名叫桑米的狗。

冈瑟说，林肯将任期一年，职责包括在阵亡将士纪念日参加游行。

他说这次选举变成了镇上孩子们接受教育的机会。

“最初我们是把这作为一个翻新学校操场的资金筹集活动，但真的变成了给孩子们的一节小小的公民课。‘出来投票，参与镇务。”冈瑟说。

Notes

1. hail  vt. 致敬;欢呼;欢迎

2. resident   n. 居民

3. nominate  vt. 推荐;提名

4. fundraiser  n. 资金筹集人;资金筹集活动

5. civic adj. 市的;公民的，市民的