Decision 2492: Election Results

Decision 2492: Election Results

April 10th, 2492, Cocoon Station, Grant Jones

In an historic event, the fate of all Luna Colony was decided today.

On one hand, incumbent Governor Anthony Bancroft took a conservative "play it safe" approach to his platform, which would be commonly referred as "old blood", the main point in his campaign was that in an age where everything changes exceedingly fast, a static attitude would allow for those on the top of the elite to remain mostly untouched and unaffected by the global changes in the system economy.

On the other hand, Wayne Thomas Russell, the underdog and outsider, played a polar opposite campaign, advocating for "thinking outside the box" and taking a younger, more liberal approach with the biggest capitals in Luna Colony, and therefore the Sol System.

Both campaigns were the subject of scrutiny by everyone in Luna Colony and beyond, capturing the attention of the Inner Planets, many analysts gave their opinion during the campaign, ONN's own analyst, Dante Templeton, offered his insight.

"To begin with, you have to look at the financial opportunities that each candidate bring as two separate decks." he says on his last commentary "Corporations that are more conservative on their approach may side with Bancroft, and corporations that are aiming for a younger, and fresher point of view may feel like they can capitalize on Russell's platform. Take Advanced Research and Experimental Systems for example, their newest CEO is significantly younger than his late predecessor, Adam Caine, and he already has a different approach to the internal operations of the corporation than Caine had. Younger CEO's simply feel identified with Russell's plight and campaign, while older CEO's wish to play it safe in the way that Bancroft promotes his platform and campaign." When asked if he thought that corporations like Matsumoto, Genetectic, and Morpheus Group Management would leave Luna in case Russell won the election, Templeton says "I don't think so, Luna Colony has always conducted business with iron clad contracts that are both strict but at the same time, very profitable to anyone who manages to land such contract, take Matsumoto Zaibatsu for example, they are the sole security provider to Luna Colony in all levels, with the exception of the Governor's Security Detail. As traditionalist as Matsumoto may be, they are still enjoying a very profitable contract, not to mention, the profile that gives them. I think the same can be said about MGM, Genetectic, and other corporations, even if the Governor has an opposite way of doing things, they will still be benefited in one way or another." These comments were made a few hours after scandal rocked Anthony Bancroft's campaign.

The Jericho V Crisis affected the entire Sol System, some locations more than others (Take for example the now gone Earth Site X-17, reduced to dust and debris after a large Jericho V Fragment crushed it), but what is constant is that in times of crisis every colony, space station, floating city, every settlement looks up to their leadership for guidance and for means to overcome any and all adversities. That was Anthony Bancroft's duty, and that was his failure.

As revealed by the mysterious Tengu, there is a log of an intercepted communication between operators assigned to the Governor's Security Detail, and what they talk about is alarming to say the least: The Governor wasn't even on Luna before the Jericho V Fragment crashed, the second he was told that the orbital defenses of the Colony may not be enough to stop the Fragment, he enacted secretive protocols to ensure his evacuation and that of a selected few, leaving 82.45% of the Lunite Citizens to fend the aftermath of the Jericho V Fragment on their own. Without means to do so, and without information either. This revelation caused indignation not only on Luna Colony but on the entire Sol System, and the silence that followed the Governor's Office when this log was first leaked was even worse: No further statements from the Governor, and a cancellation of all his social affairs as well as his public appearances. The Governor's Office would later identify, detain, and fire the two operators in the leak, now identified as Shiro Takamoto and Joao Barnes, however this didn't play in the Governor's favor either, as both Takamoto and Barnes were seen as only following their employer's orders and providing their honest insight on a medium that their employer had assured them was a safe and encrypted channel.

It's with this scandal in mind, as well as Anthony Bancroft's silence that we saw the last 48 hours of the election as a decisive, turning point. With Bancroft bleeding supporters (Both particulars and corporations as well as organizations), Russell was now seeing his platform being strengthened and his support increasing too. While still inexperienced and likely to find opposition to his ideas moving forward, he found his momentum and never let it go.

As of the last official count, the results are in.

Anthony Bancroft managed to score 15.75% of the Lunite vote.

While Wayne Thomas Russell has become the new Governor of Luna Colony securing 84.25% of the vote.

The now former Governor Bancroft has promptly issued his concession speech, a brief paragraph with no substance that could very well be an allegory to his campaign. It is rumored that Anthony Bancroft has left Luna Colony, and that the Borgia Conglomerate has issued a report on alleged corporate crimes to New Geneva itself, and that the Majestic-12 (New Geneva's task force in charge of major corporate and financial crimes) are already moving against Anthony Bancroft.

On the other side, Wayne Thomas Russell, or should we say, Governor Russell is enjoying a private celebration with his staff and his supporters, and an open event will be held tomorrow as the Sol System officially welcomes Governor Russell to the helm of one of the most important locations in all of the Sol System.

Here at Orbital News Network, we would like to congratulate Governor Russell for his victory, a very unlikely candidate with a lot of heart who, in the end, did the unthinkable and prevailed. We hope for many years of newfound prosperity for him, his staff, and Luna Colony.

Grant Jones, reporting.