After he had to clean up the mayor's crap, literally, during her inauguration last year, Police Chief Bill Humphries is hoping for a change in leadership on Town Meeting Day.

Lincoln the Goat, who won Fair Haven's first mayoral election ever by a landslide in 2019 has her first challenger: K-9 Officer Sammy.

And Officer Sammy promises to cut the crap.

The mayor responded by releasing her campaign finance report on Thursday, listing $0 spending on grain, $0 spending on hay, and promised no tax increase to fund a new playground, a project that was the cornerstone of her historic run for office. Although her historic campaign last year was more a publicity stunt to raise funds for the playground, Lincoln the Goat was officially sworn in before the Selectboard last March.

Town officials refused to comment on the Mayor's re-election strategy, but Chief Humphries told the Free Press that Lincoln the Goat's staff "have something up their sleeve." But what election trickery awaits, he could not say.

The chief confirmed that Sammy would release her tax returns if asked and, if elected mayor, would recuse herself from all police business that came before the town to avoid any conflict of interest. He also said that feline residents of Fair Haven should not be alarmed by Sammy's candidacy.

"She is very friendly," he said.

Officer Sammy has an impressive service record with the Fair Haven Police Department, where she has served with Sgt. Dale Kerber, her partner, for more than five years. Highlights include tracking down missing persons, uncovering thousands of dollars of ill-gotten cash during a suspected drug trafficking stop, and serving as the school resource officer for a time.

"She has a great working relationship with all the children in town," said Chief Humphries.

But Mayor Lincoln is touting her accomplishments as well and the more than $3,200 for the playground project since being elected. Campaign manager Chris Stanton and the mayor's administrative assistant Sally Stanton (the goat's owners) want the voters of Fair Haven to ask themselves, "Under Mayor Lincoln, am I better off today than I was a year ago?”

On Town Meeting Day, they are urging residents to "Vote Goat."

Contact Ryan Mercer at rmercer@freepressmedia.com or at 802-343-4169. Follow him on Twitter @ryanmercer1 and facebook.com/ryan.mercer1. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers. Sign up today for a digital subscription.