His name is Murfee. But is he really in charge?
Mayors help run our cities and towns. They fix problems in our communities. They also help to make sure people follow the rules.
Then there's Murfee. He's the mayor of Fair Haven, Vermont. He is also a dog!
Courtesy of Omena Historical Society
Sweet Tart
Some small towns in America don’t have a mayor. Local leaders run the town instead. A few of these towns, like Fair Haven, will choose an honorary animal mayor. The animal isn’t always a dog. In Omena, Michigan, people voted for a cat mayor named Sweet Tart!
Of course, these animal mayors don’t have any real power. So why would a town hold an animal election?
Vote for Murfee!
Elections decide who our leaders will be. This means that voting in elections is very important. It gives Americans a voice in how our towns, cities, states, and country are run.
But millions of Americans choose not to vote. In 2016, only about 60 percent of the people who could have voted for the president actually did.
Animal elections are a fun way to get people excited about voting in real elections. Fair Haven’s animal election even lets kids vote! (The voting age in most real elections is 18.)
The animal election also helped the town raise money for a new playground. People were encouraged to donate when they voted.
Murfee will be the mayor of Fair Haven until 2021. What kind of animal will win next?
Can't Miss Teaching Extras
Meet Stubbs, the feline mayor of Talkeetna, Alaska, in this story from our May/June 2017 issue!
In addition to local leaders, cities and towns are made up of many different departments that help the community. Your students will learn about six typical government services in this informative three-minute video from Kids Academy.
Your students may be too young to participate this Election Day, but you can help them get excited about voting by holding an election for a class mascot or motto! Have students submit candidates and hold your race on November 3!
