Tenokean Statehood

[Mercantilist States]

Tenokee granted 'Dominion' status
Marcel Lock appointed Governor-General

TENOKEE (Redwood Pioneer) - The Mercantilist States Congress voted unanimously today to organize Tenokee as a colony and grant it 'Dominion' status. Tenokee will be under the protection of the Merchant Defense Force and recently retired general Marcel Lock will serve as Governor-General.

"I am honored to be given the opportunity to serve my country once again," Lock said in a statement.

Colony status is the first step towards statehood and some local officials are already calling for a constitutional convention.

"Tenokee has the God-given right to self-determination," said Redwood mayor Samuel Bullock. "A [convention] date should be set as soon as possible."

Note:
Tenokee has been updated to Colony.

[Mercantilist States]

New Decartes already looked like a bustling metropolis. While not having as impressive a skyline as some of the older established cities in the core states, it definitely put Redwood to shame.

New Decartes had graciously agreed to be the host city for the Constitutional Convention. Selected to represent the city of Redwood were Mayor Samuel Bullock and businessman George Kerst. The two men came with hopes of having Redwood named the capital, though they knew the chances of that happening were slim. The market, at least, thought New Decartes was the odds on favorite for the capital; the Mercantilist Brewing Co. had already established a brewery!

People had been arriving in New Decartes all day from the small towns and cities located across the Tenokean islands. Governor-General Lock had declared that any town or city could send up to two representatives to the Convention, and it seemed that most of the islands took him up on his offer.

As they entered the main courtroom chamber of the recently completed City Hall building, Kerst and Bullock set out to networking with their fellow representatives; every so often mentioning Redwood and gaging the interest of naming it the capital. So far it wasn't looking good.

They heard a banging gavel from the bench and the representatives took their seats and quited down.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the Honorable Marcel Lock."

Marcel Lock entered the chamber from the judge's chambers and walked up to the podium on an elevated tier in the center of the courtroom.

"My fellow countrymen..."

[Mercantilist States]

"How 'bout that Marcel Lock?" George Kerst asked Samuel Bullock as the two chatted over lunch. "He may as well announce now."

The Constitutional Convention was entering its fifth week and discussions right now revolved around raising revenue. There was a big anti-tax contingent composed mostly of representatives from the Midtown Archipelago, a group of islands in eastern Tenokee. The Midtown Contingent, as they had come to be called, were made up mostly of people who had emigrated from Newsouth. They had been voting as a unified bloc most of the convention and had been raising objections and adding amendments to almost every proposal.

"Yeah. And what about those fucking Newsoutherners," as Bullock began one of his rants. "They want to debate every little proposal and are forcing us to stay in this city weeks longer than we wanted to. I got a good idea, how about we sell off some of your archipelago, that'll shut them up."

"This city is kind of growing on me though. But I do have to get back to Redwood, I have a business to attend to."

"Oh come on, your mines practically run themselves."

The basic framework of the Constitution had already been established with a Parliament who would act as the chief legislative body and a Governor who would act as the chief executive and was popularly elected by the people. It was very similar to Jazzo's Constitution, with the distinct difference being that the chief executive would be elected by the people rather than by Parliament.

"Though you know...that's an idea."

[Mercantilist States]

Tenokee Constitution Signed
Elections to be held in 90 days

TENOKEE (Redwood Pioneer) - The Tenokee Constitutional Convention concluded its business in New Decartes today with over 50 signatories from across the Tenokee islands. The Constitution features a popularly elected Parliament and Governor. The Governor serves as head of state and chief executive and will serve as the representative to the Mercantilist States Congress.

"This is the first chapter of a long and prosperous history for Tenokee," Governor-General Marcel Lock said in his closing remarks. "And I am honored to have been a part of it."

It is widely believed Lock will seek the Governorship in the upcoming elections.

Once elections are held and the Constitution goes into effect, the newly elected Governor will present the Tenokean Constitution to the Mercantilist States Congress for acceptance. If accepted, Tenokee would become the 5th state of the Mercantilist States.

The new Constitution, however, has others concerned.

"I fear that this new government of ours may fall to tyranny of the majority, and our civil rights will fall with it." said Marcus Dxon, a representative from Davidson on the Midtown Archipelago who walked out of the convention.

[Mercantilist States]

"Another positive story from the North Lock Gazette," George Kerst said as he entered Michael Langdon's office and threw a copy of the North Pass Gazette on Langdon's desk as he took a seat across the desk from Langdon.

Langdon, campaign manager of Bullock for Governor, and Kerst, finance chairman of the campaign, were meeting to discuss political and finance strategy. The latest polls had Bullock trailing Lock 44% to 35% and the elections were only weeks away. A third candidate, Vandon Hillary, had about 10% of the vote; a 10% they believed was cutting into their support.

"We've got to get that fucking Hillary out of this thing." Langdon said.

"We really need that debate," Kerst said. "I know we can pick up votes if we can get Samuel side-by-side with Lock. How's that coming?"

"Those bastards are stonewalling us," Langdon said. "The Tenokean has agreed to host it, but Lock's camp won't agree unless Hillary is in it too."

Lock's campaign had said they would debate, but only if all three candidates were in. Langdon and Kerst knew that would only hurt Bullock and make him look like another nut challenging the heir apparent.

In all reality, Lock's campaign was hoping the debate never happened. They had been able to raise huge amounts of money because Lock had the support of Mark Jennings, A.P. Hamilton, and Bill Bryan, the founders of Jennings, Hamilton, Bryan, and Co., the other major gold company in Tenokee and major competitor of Kerst Gold Inc. They could buy all the TV air time they needed.

"Jennings and Bryan dumped another million into Lock's campaign." Kerst said.

"Yeah," Langdon said as he shook his head. "How'd it go with Adams?"

"He's staying out of it. You know anyone at the Free Press? I bet if we could get them to agree to co-sponsor, Lock's camp would agree."

"I don't...but maybe... Let me make some calls."

[Mercantilist States]

"This is Michael," Michael Thompson, Press Secretary to Prime Minister Gardener, said as he answered the phone.

"Michael my man, how are you doing?"

"Langdon, good to hear from ya..."

The two made small talk and caught up.

"...anyway, can you get me a meeting with Mitchell?"

"Shouldn't be a problem."

...

[Mercantilist States]

"Welcome to tonight's Tenokean Gubernatorial debate, sponsored by The Mercantilist Free Press and The Tenokean. Our candidates at tonight's debate are former Mercantilist States General and current Tenokean Governor-General Marcel Lock and Redwood Mayor Samuel Bullock. The format of tonight's debate will be..."

Michael Langdon and George Kerst sat towards the back of the auditorium listening intently to every word. In the last week they had closed the gap to 5 points, but were still trailing Lock 45% to 40%.

"Here goes nothing," Langdon whispered to Kerst. "This could make or break us."

Langdon's meeting with Ev Mitchell had gone well and he owed Michael Thompson big time. As Kerst had accurately predicted, once the Free Press agreed to host, Lock's camp had no choice but to agree to the debate.

Debate negotiations had been fairly successful. While they were unable to agree to a format in which the candidates could pose each other questions, the candidates would not be referred to by their title which benefited Bullock greatly. Additionally, the two men were seated at a table which served to nullify Lock's height advantage.

"..Mr. Bullock, you've been criticized for pushing to allow the Mercantilist States Department of Commerce to put up for sale sovereign islands located on the Midtown Archipelago in eastern Tenokee," the moderator said. "How do you respond to your critics?"

Kerst held his breath.

"I would begin by pointing out that none of the islands have yet been sold..."

Bullock, a seasoned debater, expertly fielded the question. Langdon looked at Kerst and cracked a smile. 

"...Mr. Lock, your opponent has repeatedly criticized you for raising more money from the Mercantilist States than you have from the Tenokean islands. How do you respond to these allegations?"
 
Lock, caught off guard by the question, fumbled it.

As the debate wrapped up, Lagndon and Kerst slipped out early. They knew most people didn't watch past the first few minutes of the debate, and the story in the paper the next day was what really mattered.

They knew they could count on positive coverage from the Redwood Pioneer and negative coverage from the North Pass Gazette; the rest were up for grabs.

"Let's spin this thing..."

[Mercantilist States]

"Who wants a drink?" Michael Langdon said as he poured himself a glass of Old Mercantilism on the rocks.

Langdon, George Kerst, and the rest of the campaign staff were gathered in the War Room monitoring the returns; and just generally cutting up.

"At least wait until the election is over Langdon," James Pierce, the Political Director said.

Langdon smiled as he took a seat next to Kerst and handed him a glass.

He had faced the reality a week ago that they were going to lose. That's what happens when you're outspent more than 2 to 1. But he was holding out hope; they were all holding out hope.

...With 44% of precincts reporting Marcel Lock leads Samuel Bullock 49% to 39%... they heard from the TV.

Samuel Bullock entered the room and took a seat next to Kerst and Langdon. He had just finished working the main room of the victory party where all their supporters were gathered.

"How was it?" Kerst asked.

"You know," Bullock said, obviously having a lot on his mind.

"Want a drink?" Langdon asked.

"Naw, I still have to give a speech tonight..."

"Nothing like a little Old Mercantilism to calm you nerves," Langdon said jokingly as he took a sip of his whiskey.

"Relax my friend, there's nothing more we can do," Kerst said as he, too, took a sip of whiskey.

At that moment, the television cut to Vandon Hillary's victory party where he was giving his concession speech. Hillary was trailing badly with only 12% of the vote.

As the night wore on and more returns came in, things weren't looking much better.

...with 75% of precincts reporting Marcel Lock leads Samuel Bullock 49% to 42%...

Pierce's cell phone rang and he answered it. Bullock, Langdon, and Kerst all looked at him and waited, they knew it was someone from one of the unreported precincts calling in numbers. Pierce closed his phone and shook his head.

"Let's go," Bullock said as he got up and put on his suit jacket, fighting to hold back tears.

"Cheer up buddy," Kerst said as put his hand on Bullock's back. "At least now you'll know what your funeral will be like."

Bullock looked at Kerst and smiled. There was always 4 years from now.

[Mercantilist States]

Tenokee's First Governor
Lock edges Bullock to win Governorship

NEW DECARTES (The Tenokean) - Governor-General Marcel Lock beat Redwood Mayor Samuel Bullock and Eston Mayor Vandon Hillary yesterday to become Tenokee's first Governor. With 99% of precincts reporting Marcel Lock had 47% of the vote, to Bullock's 44%, and Hillary's 9%.

"When all is said and done, we must remember who we are and where we came from. We're Tenokeans; and we're Mercantilians," Lock said in his victory speech.

Lock will be sworn in later this week and is expected to present the Constitution of Tenokee to the Mercantilist States Congress early next week.

Note:
Tenokee has been updated to 'State' and has joined the Mercantilist States