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.