CLOTHEN, Lial -- The loss of his former lieutenant governor Jim Fallberry (C) hurts, Lial Gov. Junes Charmagne told reporters Wednesday. But the governor pledged to build a "good working-relationship" with Fallberry's successor, DeMerius Jenkins (N).
Mr. Jenkins, a 39-year-old community activist from southeast Monvaille, defeated the incumbent Fallberry, 72, in the December 2022 election.
Though elected separately, Charmagne and Fallberry, both Conservatives, had a close relationship at the state capitol in Clothen.
Both are moderates, although Fallberry is more to the right of the governor.
But sources close to both men say the two worked very well together.
"Gov. Charmagne had frequent contact with Lt. Gov. Fallberry. They met multiple times a week, sometimes daily. And the governor confided in and turned to the lieutenant governor often for advice," said one aide who worked for both men and was familiar with their relationship.
Charmagne acknowledged that in his Wednesday press conference.
"Jim Fallberry is a tough act to follow," the governor said. "I relied on him quite a bit, and he served our state well. It would be an understatement to say that he will be missed by me and my staff. We are very much going to miss him," said Charmagne.
But the governor said he will work with anyone, even a lieutenant governor from the opposition party.
"The people of Lial didn't elect me governor so I would only work with my friends or with people from my own party. They elected me and expect me to work with everyone, and that includes new folks who are from a different political party than I am. That's my job as governor, to work for the people of Lial and to do all I can, and have good relationships with all my peers, from all parties," said Charmagne.
During the election campaign, Conservatives hammered Jenkins, who served as a state legislator and city councillor, for his lack of experience.
As a community activist and progressive politician, Jenkins took a strong stance against police brutality of young African-Grassadellian men. And he made fighting racism a central pillar of his campaign.
Fallberry, a longtime state senator from Lovelace County in the northwestern suburbs of Monvaille, made his campaign for re-election about building on Lial's strong economy and fighting crime.
"There is nothing more important than protecting our children and grandchildren, protecting Lialan's property, and protecting our communities from violence, drugs, and gangs," he said during a November 2022 debate. "If I'm re-elected, I will do everything in my power to work with state senators and representatives to pass legislation that is tough on crime."
Jenkins criticized Fallberry and his supporters for not sufficiently recognizing police brutality and racism.
"It's almost like my opponent will support the police no matter what, even if they're in the wrong, even if they beat some kid with a baton, even if they shoot another young Black kid," said Jenkins at a November 2022 campaign rally in his hometown of Spratley Hill.
Fallberry dismissed that characterization.
"It's fascinating that, if you say you support police and you're tough on crime, the Nationalist Party automatically says you're racist. This isn't about race, it's about crime and public safety. Any attempt to make it about more than that is manipulation by my opponent," said Fallberry.
Despite the ugly overtones on race and policing, the campaign between Fallberry and Jenkins was mostly friendly. Jenkins was known on the campaign trail for being upbeat and friendly, and when his supporters openly called Fallberry racist, Jenkins defended his old, white, Conservative opponent.
"I don't think Jim Fallberry is racist. I think he's a good person, I think he has a good heart. I think he's just not aware of and doesn't see the racism that's all around us. He's not participating in it, he's not condoning it. But he's not seeing it and experiencing it like people of color are. That's the difference. We're just trying to bring visibility to this issue because so many white folks...and Jim's not the only one, we all know there are a lot of white folks like Jim, millions, who just aren't aware of racism. They don't experience it and feel it and see it on a daily basis like we do. But we live it everyday. So we're trying to open people's eyes and let them know that we support law enforcement, but we also want Black people treated fairly and with respect. That's all we're saying," Jenkins told the crowd.
For his part, Fallberry congratulated his successor and wished him well.
"DeMerius and I had a close race, we had a toughly-fought race. We disagreed on a lot of issues, and at times it got a little dirty, mostly from other people on the sidelines. But I think he's a nice young man, he's passionate, he cares very much about his community and the welfare of African-Grassadellians, and I certainly hope he succeeds as our next lieutenant governor," Fallberry told the Monvaille Journal.
"I hope that he listens to everyone, I hope that he considers other positions and opinions, and I hope that he does not let partisan politics cloud his judgment, because most politicians do that. I always tried to be independent and to stand up on my ideas and my own beliefs and not let anyone in the other party or my own party tell me what to do. And I hope DeMerius does that also," said Fallberry.
Junes Charmagne's team said the Charmagne-Jenkins relationship will be "a different dynamic" than Charmagne's close relationship with Fallberry, but will remain positive.
"As Gov. Charmagne has said in the past, he will work with anyone from any party to get things done for the people of Lial. I fully expect him to follow through on his word and work closely and positively with Lt. Gov. Jenkins," said Abby Hunt, spokesperson for the governor.
In a tweet, Jenkins said he remains committed to working with his Conservative counterparts as well.
"We need to build bridges between different groups in our state, and that starts with me building bridges to colleagues from the other party," he wrote.
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