Farengatto Decides Against Run For Congress

Deschire lieutenant governor would have to move to establish residency

NORTH BERIVIAN, DESCHIRE--Lieutenant Governor Angie Farengatto (TA) has decided against running for Congress in Deschire's 7th District, she announced Saturday.

Farengatto, who made history in 2008 when she became the first candidate of the fledgling family-values Traditionalist Party elected to state-wide office in the nation, has been courted in recent weeks by the Conservative Party to run for the vacant seat, which opened up after Congressman Robert Sherman (CNS) resigned last month after being diagnosed with liver cancer.

In a press conference Saturday at the state capitol, Farengatto said she would have to move from her current home in rural Dovlin County, which lies in the 3rd District, across the boundary to the adjacent 7th District, and "that's just not something I'm willing to do at this time," she said.

"My husband and I have three children, and we have a lovely home that we love, and to ask my family to pack up their things and move to a new home in a new district, and force my kids to move to a new school, that would just not be fair," Farengatto said.

But it wasn't just the moving that discouraged her from running.

"I'm happy here [at the capitol]. I love being lieutenant governor. Every day, I get to serve the people of this great state and I get to play an important role in the decision-making process here in North Berivian. I'm not ready for a move to Mavocke," she said, of becoming a member of Congress.

Though she is a member of a different political party, Farengatto's announcement is a blow to local Conservatives, who were hoping to join forces with the Traditionalist Party and support her candidacy in what has become, in recent years, a battle-ground district. The CNS has few strong candidates, and many party leaders fear North Berivian Mayor Kallie O'Connor may run for the Nationalists, making her a formidable opponent in the special election.

O'Connor, who is in her second term as mayor, has not announced if she will seek the empty seat.

Judge Denies King's Request To Halt Recall Effort, Sets Election Date For April 26

Judge tosses Monomi governor's lawsuit, says recall election can go on

TREETON, MONOMI--A state judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by embattled Monomi Governor Scott King Jr. (NAT), who sought to have a recall effort against him annulled.

The Honorable Judge Gary J. Rice ruled in state court Friday that the recall effort against King was conducted fairly and in accordance with state law, and, despite claims by King's attorneys of errors and wrong-doing by recall supporters, the recall election facing King can go on as planned.

The recall election has already been delayed from its original March 7 date. The new recall election date has been set for April 26, giving both sides "ample time" to argue their case, Rice said.

"I find that there is no legal standing to prevent this recall measure from moving forward, and the complainant has not provided sufficient evidence to justify delaying or annulling this recall election," Rice said in his ruling.

Monomi Secretary of State Sharon Dimaggio (CNS) testified in favor of the recall effort, telling the court that she certified the more than 445,000 of the 532,000 signatures that were submitted to her office.

"In my opinion, this process was conducted within the means of the law," she testified Tuesday.

Recall supporters hailed the court's ruling, calling it "another victory in the long road to removing Scott King from office." Jeff Kinbry, with the group Citizens to Recall Scott King, urged the governor to stop court appeals and let the election take place.

"Scott King and his lawyers are using every appeals process and legal avenue they can to delay and prevent this recall election from happening," Kinbry said on the steps of the courthouse in Treeton. "Governor, you have had your chance to appeal, and now the people want the chance to have their voices heard."

King's legal team expressed disappointment at the court's ruling, but would not comment on if they would appeal the court's decision to the state Supreme Court.

Despite being tainted by criminal investigations into allegations of fraud, bribery and even prostitution, King is still in office, and has resisted calls for his resignation, even from members within his own party, such as Lt. Gov. Erica Kinsley and Congresswoman Mary Kay Allen (N-Skyllings). King was never indicted in either the state or federal investigations, with both federal investigators and Monomi Attorney General Ed Casey (NAT) citing a lack of evidence for an indictment.

Conservatives have accused Casey of protecting King, and the state CNS party has been almost unanimous in its calls for King's resignation. However, only one of Monomi's five senators, Democratic-Reformist Willy Locke, has called for the governor to step down. The other four senators--two Conservative and two Nationalist--have remained neutral throughout the ordeal.

Despite initial support among voters to recall the once-popular King, opinion polls now show voters less inclined to vote in favor of the recall. Many feel the recall process (and impeachment process that occurred simultaneously but ultimately failed in the state legislature) has dragged on too long. King has less than a year left in office, and will be leaving in January 2010 due to term limits.

And if recalled, he will be replaced by Kinsley, whom has faced criticism for her immediate calls for King's resignation, which many believe were motivated by her desire to seek the governor's office in the 2010 election. Kinsley, who, like King, was once popular, now has approval ratings in the negative territory also, as many voters have viewed her icy relationship with King, and perceive her as a power-hungry, ambitious politician who wants to push King out of her way so his scandal won't hurt her political future.

"By the time it's over with, he'll only have six or seven months left in office, and who will we be replacing him with? Erica Kinsley? She's no better than he is," said 71-year-old Russ Wexlehoff, a retired farmer from Teedra.
Conservatives are faring no better in the public opinion arena, however, with many voters believing the opposition party is dragging out the ordeal to maximize political gain and earn more votes in the 2010 election.

"It's become less about restoring the integrity of our government and more about Scott King and Erica Kinsley and the Conservative Party trying to use the scandal for their own gain," said one Treeton resident.

Still, voters will have the final say on April 26, barring an intervention by the state Supreme Court. An appeal by King's legal team to the court could come as early as tomorrow.

Duschowitz Gives Stern Warning About Difficult Election

Biereland governor warns of 'massive revolt' against Conservative Party in 2010 election

BROOMFIELD, BIERELAND--The 2010 mid-term elections may see a "massive revolt" against the Conservative Party, Biereland Governor Jenny Duschowitz, a Conservative, said Saturday.

Duschowitz was speaking at the Leeland County Conservative Party Conference in the town of Broomfield in southern Biereland when she made the comments. In her speech, she warned Conservatives have a difficult election ahead.

"We have a tough year ahead of us, there's no doubt about that," Duschowitz said. "And if we don't start to turn around this economy, and if we don't start to win back the voters' trust, we will see our numbers fall and the other party take control of one or even both houses of Congress."

Duschowitz was referring to federal politics, but the governor, who is in her first term, is facing a difficult fight for re-election of her own. Once having a healthy approval rating of 67%, Duschowitz's approval numbers have now slipped dramatically to just 42% in the latest poll, conducted by the Greene Mountain Press newspaper in Brookings.

Furthermore, the governor is likely to face former Otterbein County commissioner San Bartholomew (NAT), who has the backing of Biereland's top environmental organizations and has already raised almost $870,000 since he formally entered the race last month. Duschowitz has been doing fundraising of her own, amassing $1.4 million in addition to the $270,000 she already had at the start of her campaign. However, the governor does acknowledge her bid for re-election will be tough, in what is likely to be a successful election for the NAT, particularly in Biereland, where scandal-ridden Senator Driscoll Sherber (CNS) is also running for re-election.

"I know our party faces extraordinary challenges this go around, but we will be strong and we will continue to stand up for freedom and responsibility and accountability in government," Duschowitz said.

One bright spot for the CNS in Biereland is the seat currently held by Michael Kreighorn (NAT), who is also seeing sagging poll numbers. However, NAT leaders are hoping to oust Kreighorn by electing the much more liberal former Brookings mayor Steve Pottomeaux in the primary election. Unlike Kreighorn, who is serving his first term, Pottomeaux has widespread name recognition and is popular statewide. Meanwhile, the Conservatives have few viable candidates interested in challenging either Kreighorn or Pottomeaux. Former senator Bob Kozzy, who lost his re-election bid to Steve Kolotano (NAT) in 2008, has announced his candidacy for the seat. Timber tycoon Robert Browning has also announced his candidacy, making for a competitive CNS primary.

Nation-wide, Conservatives face a tough election year. Dozens of members of the National Assembly have announced retirement, while six of the seven members retiring in the Senate are Conservatives. Additionally, of the 32 seats up for election in the Senate, 19 are held by Conservatives.

Harvannah Attorney General Seeks To Disband WHMC

AG: regional council takes away rights of rural citizens

CLEVEY SPRINGS, HVN--The Western Harvannah Metropolitan Council (WHMC) is unconstitutional, and should be disbanded immediately, Harvannah's Attorney General said Wednesday.

In an affidavit to the state's Superior Court, Attorney General Julia Giorchani (CNS) said the WHMC, a regional governmental body with jurisdiction over Scandinaugh, Herell and Bourneham Counties in the western half of the state, is unconstitutional because it creates legislation that affects not only the urban residents it seeks to represent but also rural residents who live outside the counties' major metropolitan areas.

The WHMC was created last year, as an attempt to coordinate governmental cooperation and to streamline local ordinances and laws for residents of the three counties, which, together, account for just over half of the state's population. The idea behind the WHMC was that, since all the cities on Harvannah's western coast are virtually connected due to urban sprawl and the counties closely linked geographically, economically and culturally, one governing authority would be more productive than each community and county having its own government.

Local officials in Harvannah supported the creation of the WHMC and urban residents widely support its existence. However, even before its inception, rural citizens were opposed. Many living in rural communities and in the countryside feel the WHMC is wrongfully imposing taxes on them for services provided mostly in urban areas. Furthermore, laws passed by the council apply to the entirety of the counties, not just the cities.

Giorchani says she's suing on behalf of the counties' rural residents, who feel their tax dollars are being used only for urban projects and who feel the WHMC is passing laws that should not apply to them.

"The WHMC is imposing a one-size-fits-all method on every citizen in these counties. That's not right," Giorchani said. "What's right for downtown Harlyne is not necessarily right for Raeka or Ebram's Point or rural Herell County. Some laws are appropriate only for urban areas, and should not be applied to rural areas too. This is unconstitutionl. Voters should have local control over local issues."

Giorchani's lawsuit seeks to nullify the WHMC's authority and disband the council.

"The cities and municipalities need to start over from scratch and create a new council that deals only with metropolitan issues," Giorchani said. "We need a governing body that is effective and representative and does not take away the rights of any citizen."

WHMC President Ray Augustino (N-Scandinaugh Co.) declined to comment Wednesday afternoon and directed the media to the council's legal team, which also declined to comment.

Harlyne Mayor Kallain Carney was out of the office Wednesday, but Ashford's Landing Mayor Peter Levenko and Clevey Springs Mayor Todd Kren both agreed changes must be brought to the WHMC and its role.

"I think change is [coming] in the future," Levenko said.

"I don't know if [the WHMC] needs to be disbanded, but it definitely needs to be changed and refined and we need to have an honest conversation between all the cities and municipalities and county governments and try and figure out a governing process that works for the purpose of governance and also works to the voters' benefit," Kren said.

Currently, the WHMC is made up of six members--one from each county, and three at-large positions--and is responsible for things such as imposing taxes, refuse collection, and tourism promotion. Presently, the council is evenly bipartisan, with three members from the CNS and three from the NAT.

Giorchani's lawsuit will be presented before a court in April.

Dearling Concedes

CNS Senate candidate ends legal challenge, NAT holds on to seat

CLOTHEN, LIAL--The battle for the Senate in Lial is now over, after Conservative candidate John Dearling ended his legal challenge to the previous vote certification and conceded to Nationalist Henry Mickeravi.

Dearling made the announcement Friday afternoon in Clothen, after previously denying rumors he would concede.

"I have decided, after much thought and discussion with my team and my family that the best option for the people of Lial is for me to stand down and concede to Mr. Mickeravi," Dearling said at his press conference. "A long, drawn-out court battle would most likely not change the outcome of the race and that's not something the people of Lial want to be put through."

His announcement means Mickeravi will likely be sworn in to the Senate on Monday, as NAT leaders had originally planned. He will replace out-going Senator Juslana Thompson-N, who left the Senate to become Ambassador to Japan.

Turnout for the special Senate election, held February 2, was higher than expected, with about 40%, or more than 3.5 million voters, according to Secretary of State Alan Dillon. The initial count on election night showed Mickeravi leading Dearling 50.44% to 49.56%, a difference of about 30,000 votes. Dearling refused to concede, citing uncounted overseas and military ballots.

The Dearling campaign also filed legal challenges in Darrington and Shepard Counties, alleging voter fraud and counting discrepancies. The Mickeravi campaign also filed suit in Hayman County with a similar complaint.

Trials in the three lawsuits began last week, but no decisions were have been handed down yet.

Initially, the Dearling campaign vowed to not concede until the courts' rulings were released, saying Dearling would "not even consider conceding until every vote is counted." But on Friday, he reversed his earlier plans and did just that.

"It's disappointing, but I respect the will of the people and I believe it's in the best interest of the people of Lial," Dearling said Friday evening at Rudmere International Airport in Clothen.

The Mickeravi campaign welcomed the news.

"We applaud John Dearling for doing the right thing and we thank him for running an honorable race," Jared Colmes, a spokesman for the campaign said in a statement Friday evening.

Mr. Mickeravi was at his eastern Lial home when Dearling made the announcement, Colmes said. Colmes added that Dearling phoned Mickeravi and the two had a "pleasurable" conversation that lasted about 15 minutes.

In a statement later Friday evening, Mr. Mickeravi thanked his opponent for conceding and pledged to work on behalf of all Lialans.

"I want to thank John Dearling. He ran a great campaign and he brought a lot of issues to the conversation and he is a good man," Mickeravi said. "I also want to thank the great people of the state of Lial for electing me and I promise, from day one, to serve with dignity and honor and to represent our interests to my fullest ability."

A small celebration was held in Mickeravi's honor in Monvaille Friday night, but the senator-elect was not present. He was reportedly at home, preparing to fly out to Mavocke the next day to meet with Nationalist Senate leaders.