Mark Ellsworth swaps out energy-efficient LED streetlights for old, less-efficient ones

DEROSA, E. Des. -- In one of his first moves as the new governor of East Deschire, Mark Ellsworth (C) has ordered the state department of transportation to replace energy-efficient LED streetlights with older, less-efficient lights.

Former Gov. Val Hennemott (N) instructed the state department of transportation to upgrade streetlights with newer bulbs that emit less energy in an effort to reduce state government's energy waste.

In a press conference celebrating the return to older technology, Ellsworth criticized the LED lights, saying they are dimmer and provide less light, creating a public safety problem.

"My predecessor caved to the left-wing, 'woke' policies of radical environmentalists, and installed these LED light bulbs to ostensibly 'fight climate change.' But common sense shows that these new lights are dim, they don't work as well, they don't light up the streets as well, and they make darker, less safe streets for East Deschireans. So we're going back to the old bulbs that actually worked."

"Public safety should outweigh the false hoax of climate change," he said, in a direct jab to Hennemott.

Under the new executive order, the LED lights will be phased out and replaced with older, amber-colored streetlights, which require more energy.

Some local politicians and citizens had criticized the LED lights for both less brightness and also a harsher color.

Ellsworth said lighting streets with good lighting that doesn't hurt people's eyes is most important.

The East Deschire Coalition for Clean Energy criticized the governor's executive order as "a stunt," "and not a very good one, at that," said Cliff Heggins, CEO of the non-profit group.

The state Nationalist Party also chimed in with a scathing take on Ellsworth's reversion to older lights.

"Only a crazy, climate-denier like Mark Ellsworth would think installing old light bulbs that are less-efficient and more harmful for the environment, would be a good thing," said Tracy Adkinson, vice president of the state NAT Party.

In a statement from his office, Ellsworth's spokesperson Ashley Stevers said the governor is open to saving taxpayers money through energy efficiency, "if it makes sense."

"No one is opposed to energy efficiency, including Governor Ellsworth. But when the 'woke' policies don't make sense, when they put the people of East Deschire last and radical, unproven environmental policies first, the governor is going to oppose those policies at every turn," Stevers said in an email to GNN.

The Hennemott administration had said installing LED lights would save the state millions of dollars in the long run, however those numbers were never confirmed.

The Ellsworth administration has declined to comment on the financial impact of reverting back to older-style lights.

Mike Shannon hits the ground running as new Marchenay governor

NEWCASTLE, March. -- Newly-elected Governor Mike Shannon (C) is diving into his new role just months after he took over the reins of the state's top job. 

Shannon, who defeated former Gov. Dan Rattner (N) in the 2022 election, has already signed over two dozen bills into law, including some that are near-and-dear to conservative causes.

The governor signed JB 2417, which allows members of the military to skip mandatory gun safety classes if they've already undergone military training.

He also signed JB 2426, which guarantees free legal representation for police officers accused of misconduct, if accused officers are found not guilty of the charges.

Shannon has also taken action on his own without the legislature's approval.

He signed executive orders prohibiting mask mandates unless the state secretary of health, who is appointed by the governor, agrees mask mandates are necessary.

Another executive order the governor issued was one protecting the death penalty in Marchenay.

His predecessor had issued an executive order prohibiting state prosecutors from seeking the death penalty in all criminal cases. Shannon's order rescinds Rattner's and ensures the death penalty is still available for eligible violent crimes.

Shannon also signed an executive order that prohibits teaching on transgenderism and sexual identity in public until the sixth grade.

And he approved a state budget that includes record spending on road projects, a key promise of his 2022 campaign.

With Marchenay's legislature firmly under NAT control, Shannon can't pass all of his chosen legislative priorities.

State NAT leaders refused to support his policies on teaching transgenderism, police legal representation, and the death penalty, which is why the governor turned to executive orders.

The governor has shown some bipartisanship, however.

He sided with Nationalist legislators when he signed a bill that protects over 50,000 acres of wilderness in the Blueshott Mountains in southern Marchenay. Conservative legislators were largely opposed.

And the governor's staff and key NAT state lawmakers all agree that Shannon has made efforts to reach across the aisle. 

He has weekly contact with NAT state senators and representatives, either in person, or over the phone, his chief of staff Kyle Webb said. NAT lawmakers confirmed the governor regularly reaches out.

Still, his conservative agenda will be difficult to enshrine in law with a heavily-NAT legislature.

Sources close to the governor and close to key NAT figures in the state all agree that Shannon faces a difficult challenge in weaving his conservative agenda through an NAT-controlled state legislature.

But the governor, who is known for his tact and ability to work with people, is a strong negotiator, and is willing to work with anyone if it helps advance his priorities, sources close to him said.

Those sources did not want to be named, because they are not permitted to speak to the media about inter-office work.

Shannon himself has publicly pledged to work with Nationalists, with one caveat.

"I will work with the other party, as long as they work with me in good faith," he told an audience on the campaign trail back in November 2022.

"If Nationalists back out of deals, or if they don't honor their word, though, that breaks trust, and I probably won't be interested in working with them again. If everyone works together in an honest effort, and in good faith; if everybody conducts themselves professionally and in a business-like manner, we'll get along fine, even if we vehemently disagree," he said.

As for former Gov. Dan Rattner, he has quietly taken a job as a lawyer in private practice. He announced on Twitter last month he has joined the Madagen law firm Jones, Reilly and O'Bannon.

Rattner's office declined to comment for this story.

He has not said if he plans to run again for governor, or another office, in the future.

Vic Chambers holds on in divided NAT primary election

MASTWIN, S. Ceona -- A four-way race for the special Senate election in South Ceona benefitted the incumbent, Saturday.

Sen. Vic Chambers (N) secured his party's nomination for re-election, despite three well-funded challengers from his party who targeted the moderate senator.

Chambers secured 27.72% of the votes in Saturday's special election, hardly a mandate from Nationalist Party voters, but enough to win the NAT nomination.

His closest challenger was left-wing activist Taffy Layholt, a community organizer from inner-city Fairfield. Layholt received just over a quarter of the votes (25.08%), respectively.

Businesswoman Tiffany Kisner and former Member of Assembly Allan Shephard, both moderates, were close behind. Kisner received 24.27% and Shephard had 22.93 percent, as of the last-updated numbers.

Early on in the tabulations, it was looking grim for Chambers, who, despite being a life-long Nationalist, has a very conservative voting record and often sides with his Conservative colleagues over his fellow NAT peers.

Even though South Ceona is a Conservative-leaning state, Chambers has had success winning re-election in the past, as many Conservative voters have supported him.

But over the past few years, Nationalists have grown increasingly dissatisfied with Chambers' conservative voting patterns.

South Ceona liberals have attacked Chambers for years, and were hoping to oust him in the party's special primary election.

However, progressives' hopes were dashed when Chambers three opponents split the vote and allowed the senator to narrowly slip by with a plurality of the vote.

Chambers supporters were nervous early in the night, as early returns from the state's more populous western half leaned heavily in favor of Layholt, Kisner and Shephard.

Hinterwin County, the state's most-populated, which encompasses the state's largest city of Gallaghan, went easily to Shephard. Chambers took a distant last-place there.

He fared similarly badly in Fairfield County, the second-most-populous county. Shephard won that county too.

In eastern South Ceona, Chambers came in last in Malden County also, the fourth-largest county in the state.

But he made significant gains in Addieburg County, which includes Chambers' hometown of Mastwin. The senator won over 60% there, routing his rivals.

Chambers was also successful in several mid-size counties, including New Britain County, which includes the northern suburbs of Fairfield, and Whimsner County in the north-central part of the state.

His surprise win is relief for the state's Conservative Party, which has agreed not to run an official Conservative candidate against Chambers in the upcoming general election.

With no strong candidates lined up to run, the state CNS Party recruited businessman and former Senate candidate Scotch Harrison as a last-minute candidate, in case Chambers lost his NAT primary.

Chambers struck a deal with South Ceona's Conservative Party because of his history of voting with the CNS so frequently. In many ways, Chambers is considered a reliable Conservative vote, even though he's from the opposing party.

He will now go on to the special general election, where no mainstream or well-known Conservative candidates will be on the ballot. Scotch Harrison immediately withdrew from the race upon Chambers' win.

The only candidate left on the ballot will be Conservative activist John Rambo from rural Silanstra County. Rambo has little name recognition and little money backing his campaign, and the Conservative Party has made clear they do not endorse Rambo's candidacy.

That clears the path for Chambers to win re-election, however, the 77-year-old senator has hinted his third term may be his last.

Assuming Chambers wins re-election, he'll remain a firm conservative senator representing South Ceona. 

Fellow Nationalist Sen. Mick O'Toole is the only reliable liberal vote representing the state.

***South Ceona Senate Primary Election -- NAT -- Results***

Chambers	Kisner	Layholt	Shephard		Chambers	Kisner	Layholt	Shephard
27.72%	24.27%	25.08%	22.93%		204,960	179,451	185,492	169,569
					27.72%	24.27%	25.08%	22.93%