Conceding the Mayoral Election

[HalflingPrincess 411]

[!] A relatively short letter is tacked to the Bramblebury notice board

An Address
to the
People of Bramblebury
On Conceding the Mayoral Election

My dear friends and fellow halflings;
 

My reasons for writing to you are numerous, but chief among them is my desire to make the following declaration: I wish to concede the election of the Mayor to Iris Peregrin. Despite any past remarks I may have made about her lack of experience, I am fully confident in her leadership, and expect her to prove a far greater stateswoman than I could ever have hoped to be. Her kindness, amicability, and good nature far exceed my own virtues, but more importantly she has earned your support; the support of the people. While I cannot deny the role I played in returning democracy to the halflings, I must give the true credit for achieving our free government to our people. Your collected opinions are far more important than mine.

I write as if I have lost the election already because I have come to realize that it would be neither right nor worth it to stand between Iris and the office of mayor. I must admit that I am only too aware of the reasons for which you would choose Iris over myself. Though in reviewing my actions as activist, Elder, and framer of our constitution, I am unaware of any intentional misdeeds, I know that it is very likely that I have made a number of mistakes. While I have faith in our new constitution, I recognize also that many do not, and as such I would not blame our Thain, Mayor, or Sheriff for moving to amend the constitution I created. I hope only that our people can emerge stronger from this transition of power, and that if not; that history will be merciful in its telling of my actions.

In keeping with these sentiments, I do not intend to run for any future public office. Though I would gladly be an advisor those who remain in power, I have grown far too weary of politics to continue offering publicly my unsolicited opinions, and am well aware of the fact that much of what I say falls upon ears that are unwilling to listen. This is a decision that I have come to after much contemplation, and I do not make it out of fear of defeat; I could certainly have stood to lose an election; nor do I make it out of idleness; for it is clear to me that the people do not trust me to correct any errors which I have made, and would prefer to defer that duty to others. 

With my intention of retirement from political life established, I shall now give parting words to a number of you:
 

To my dear friend, our Thain Isalie Gardner; I salute you for yielding your power to the people. On their behalf, I express also concern about the longevity of your position. For, despite the democratic principles enshrined in our constitution, many find the nature of Thainship to be dictatorial, and are frustrated at their inability to remove a such a powerful leader. I know not what you can do other than give an open ear to them, and to work tirelessly alongside Iris to serve their needs and interests.

 

To Iris, I hope that you can accomplish what I can not; that you can continue to unite our people rather than divide them, and that you continue to act in a manner that is inspirational to all halflings.

To the voters, I advise this: do not allow yourself to be swept up in the rhetoric of demagogues who seek to use fear, whether it be of properness or improperness, to gain your support. The village can only stand if it remains united, and only through cooperation and compromise can we hope to achieve a truly free and open government.

 

It is here, my friends, that I bid farewell as a leader of our people. After nearly twelve years of my life dedicated to serving you, the time has come to entrust the duties of public office to others. I look foward to living in the free society we have created not as an Elder or Mayor but as a citizen, and to participating in our government as an equal to others.

 

Though I leave political life with some reluctance, I return to private life with great exuberence. For indeed, there much still for me to do in other fields; whether it be winemaking, archiving, teaching, poetry, or history. I know for sure that my wife and children will be overjoyed to find me finally out my office, and I look forward to long hours of rest and relaxation, safe in this village which we have built for ourselves; Bramblebury, the greatest village in Almaris.

Greta Goodbarrel
-Citizen of Bramblebury

[Britannicvs 2508]

"Greta shows fine character!" Alfie declared with a smile. "She would have been a good mayor!"

[__Clocky 770]

“Am..i..ca..ble? Well, w’a’evah y’all means, et doesn’ ma’’er anehways!” James away from the notice board, eating a piece of bread. “Iris will make ah foine mayor!”