美国4岁男孩当选镇长

 　　This pint-sized politician may not speak softly but he sure does carry a big stick. Mayor Robert Tufts is calling the shots in Dorset, Minn., a small community near Park Rapids.

　　这位小小政治家可能不会温柔地跟镇上的居民沟通，但他还是会拄个大拐杖在镇上巡视。小镇长罗伯特·塔夫斯目前管理着明尼苏达州的小镇多西特，该镇位于帕克拉皮兹附近。

　　The four-year-old might not have the academic credentials¹ for the job (he hasn't passed kindergarten). But residents say he's got the chops--and the mouth--to run the town.

　　4岁的小镇长可能没有不满足这项工作的学历资历要求(因为他幼儿园还没毕业)，不过镇上的居民们都说他管理小镇来还真有两把刷子。

　　“He's amazing. He's just completely amazing,” said Kathy Schmidt, whose family has lived in the area for four generations. “He's right in your face and well-spoken. You can't imagine what a ball of fire he is.” The mayor can sing and dance with the best of them, WCCO reports.

　　家族四代人都住在小镇上的凯西·施密特表示：“他很棒，真的非常棒。他站在你面前，说话头头是道。你可能想不到，但他真的是个才智过人精力充沛的孩子。” 根据WCCO网站的报道， 塔夫斯才艺多多，能唱会跳。

　　He guides his citizens safely across the street, big stick in hand. He's also an expert fisherman and knows how to dole² out advice about the best bait to use.

　　小镇长常手里拄个拐杖，引导着镇上居民安全地过马路。他还是钓鱼方面的专家，经常给出意见，教大家如何使用最好的鱼饵。

　　And he's not ashamed to talk about his love life. He says he has just one girlfriend for now--a girl named Sophia. It's unclear whether the town's first lady knows that she's captured the mayor's heart.

　　谈起自己的恋爱生活他也落落大方，表示自己现在有一个女朋友——小姑娘叫苏菲。不过我们还不清楚，这位小镇第一夫人知不知道自己已经俘获了小镇长的心。

　　Mayor Tufts was chosen at last year's “Taste of Dorset” festival. The small town selects its leader in a drawing during the popular event. Campaigns don't cost much in Dorset--just $1 will get your name in the hat.

　　塔夫斯是在去年的“体验多西特” 节上当选的镇长，小镇会在这项全民参与的活动中通过抓阄选择领导人。多西特的竞选活动花费不多，只要一美元，你的名字就可以放到帽子里去啦。

　　Robert is not the first young leader of Dorset, with the town having previously³ had a 5-year-old from Chicago in charge. The town boasts a population of 22.

　　塔夫斯也不是多西特小镇第一任年轻领导人，该镇曾有过一个来自芝加哥的五岁孩子当选镇长。小镇上只有22位居民。

1 credentials   

n.证明，资格，证明书，证件

参考例句：

• He has long credentials of diplomatic service.他的外交工作资历很深。
• Both candidates for the job have excellent credentials.此项工作的两个求职者都非常符合资格。

2 dole   

n.救济，（失业）救济金；vt.（out）发放，发给

参考例句：

• It's not easy living on the dole.靠领取失业救济金生活并不容易。
• Many families are living on the dole since the strike.罢工以来，许多家庭靠失业救济金度日。

3 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。