East of the Merrimack: A 2006 CD Game (Discussion and Sign Up)

[Kuumo]

Name: Lauren Winters
Gender: Female
Age and DOB: 43 Years Old, March 11, 1963
Hometown: Rochester, NH
Current Residence: Durham, NH
Political Party: Democratic
Occupation: Mayor
Background: Winters was born and grew up in a working-class family in Rochester. She majored in political science at UNH on full scholarship and attended law school at Yale. After completing law school, Winters started a law practice in Durham since wanted to stay close to her family and felt very out of place at Yale.
Political Record*: Winters was elected mayor of Durham in 2001 in an upset due to strong grassroots support. She has been consistently opposed to the Iraq War and to foreign intervention in general due to her uncle's death in Vietnam in 1970. As mayor, she has helped enact environmentalist policies and maintain high funding for the education system. Winters served as an organizer for Howard Dean's 2004 Presidential campaign. She is liberal on social issues, supporting civil unions and strongly pro-choice but is also largely opposed to gun control and free trade and ambivalent about immigration due to her working class background. On healthcare, she supports a public option and has given a few ambiguous statements suggesting support for single-payer but has not committed to it publicly. Winters also favors increased environmental protections.
Visual Description**: 5'7", green eyes, straight brown hair
Additional Information: Struggled with alcoholism in her younger years but does not drink anymore.

[KaiserDave]

Name: Lauren Winters
Gender: Female
Age and DOB: 43 Years Old, March 11, 1963
Hometown: Rochester, NH
Current Residence: Durham, NH
Political Party: Democratic
Occupation: Mayor
Background: Winters was born and grew up in a working-class family in Rochester. She majored in political science at UNH on full scholarship and attended law school at Yale. After completing law school, Winters started a law practice in Durham since wanted to stay close to her family and felt very out of place at Yale.
Political Record*: Winters was elected mayor of Durham in 2001 in an upset due to strong grassroots support. She has been consistently opposed to the Iraq War and to foreign intervention in general due to her uncle's death in Vietnam in 1970. As mayor, she has helped enact environmentalist policies and maintain high funding for the education system. Winters served as an organizer for Howard Dean's 2004 Presidential campaign. She is liberal on social issues, supporting civil unions and strongly pro-choice but is also largely opposed to gun control and free trade and ambivalent about immigration due to her working class background. On healthcare, she supports a public option and has given a few ambiguous statements suggesting support for single-payer but has not committed to it publicly. Winters also favors increased environmental protections.
Visual Description**: 5'7", green eyes, straight brown hair
Additional Information: Struggled with alcoholism in her younger years but does not drink anymore.

Accepted Ms. Mayor!

[KaiserDave]

New players are strongly advised to play as Republicans, but I probably won't reject new Democratic players.

[OBD]

Name: Buck Wilton

Gender: Male

Age and DOB: 57 Years Old, July 4, 1949

Hometown: Raymond, NH

Current Residence: Raymond, NH

Political Party: Republican (previously Independent)

Occupation: Businessman, Farmer, Father of Four

Background: Buck Wilton was born in 1949, and served proudly in Vietnam from 1968 to 1971, rising to the rank of First Lieutenant before receiving an honorable discharge due to injury. He returned home with aspirations take over his family's small agricultural supplies business, Wilton Surplus. Using the GI Bill to get a degree in agriculture from the Granite State College, he became CEO of Wilton Surplus following his father's death in a 1978 car crash. Over 28 years under his tenure, Buck built Wilton Surplus into a strong regional company with branches across rural New Hampshire, and is a well-respected public figure because of it. Buck has also used his wealth to make extensive charity contributions, with a focus on orphanages, food banks and services for children - this also includes a scholarship that he personally funds, the Wilton Surplus American Dream Scholarship, which goes to New Hampshire high school students who would be the first in their family to attend college. Buck married his lifelong sweetheart, Lara Wilton nee Wolf, in 1973, and they have four kids together - three sons and a daughter who are now of age. One of his sons, Earnest Wilton (age 26), is a bench player for the Boston Celtics, and another, Carl Wilton (age 22), is currently serving in Afghanistan. Unfortunately, his third son, Buck Jr. (born 1978), died of cancer in 1992. His daughter, Patricia (age 31), currently works as a nurse in Portland, Maine. While Buck Wilton is a political neophyte, he is well-known and respected in rural SE New Hampshire (as mentioned earlier), and has been involved in local government somewhat, using his clout to support local works projects and the like. Wilton has many close friends among the farmers in the area thanks to his business's emphasis on relationships between the client and the seller, and is very willing to hand out discounts to people he likes and trusts. He's also known for occasionally having a fiery temperament, which can be triggered or aggravated by his chronic back pain.

Political Record: Wilton has not been involved much in politics, and thus does not have much of a political record. However (off the public record), he is a Republican of the populist strain, taking centrist positions on economic issues (and notably, on the Iraq War) while remaining socially conservative on issues such as immigration and gun rights. Wilton's campaign is self-described as a 'crusade for the working American'. In terms of on-record votes and political donations, Wilton has generally donated to and supported Republican candidates, particularly John McCain in 2000. However, Wilton voted for Perot in 1992, citing anger at the corporatist two-party duopoly.

Visual Description: 6'1", blue eyes, rugged gray hair, prefers to wear camo jacket and khaki pants, occasionally with army medals

Additional Information: Vietnam War injuries have caused him to have chronic back pain (due to getting shot), currently being treated but may flare up during campaign. Wilton is also known as a generous employer, though he allegedly firing a female worker in 1987 for getting an abortion (currently under wraps).

[KaiserDave]

Name: Buck Wilton

Gender: Male

Age and DOB: 57 Years Old, July 4, 1949

Hometown: Raymond, NH

Current Residence: Raymond, NH

Political Party: Republican (previously Independent)

Occupation: Businessman, Farmer, Father of Four

Background: Buck Wilton was born in 1949, and served proudly in Vietnam from 1968 to 1971, rising to the rank of First Lieutenant before receiving an honorable discharge due to injury. He returned home with aspirations take over his family's small agricultural supplies business, Wilton Surplus. Using the GI Bill to get a degree in agriculture from the Granite State College, he became CEO of Wilton Surplus following his father's death in a 1978 car crash. Over 28 years under his tenure, Buck built Wilton Surplus into a strong regional company with branches across rural New Hampshire, and is a well-respected public figure because of it. Buck has also used his wealth to make extensive charity contributions, with a focus on orphanages, food banks and services for children - this also includes a scholarship that he personally funds, the Wilton Surplus American Dream Scholarship, which goes to New Hampshire high school students who would be the first in their family to attend college. Buck married his lifelong sweetheart, Lara Wilton nee Wolf, in 1973, and they have four kids together - three sons and a daughter who are now of age. One of his sons, Earnest Wilton (age 26), is a bench player for the Boston Celtics, and another, Carl Wilton (age 22), is currently serving in Afghanistan. Unfortunately, his third son, Buck Jr. (born 1978), died of cancer in 1992. His daughter, Patricia (age 31), currently works as a nurse in Portland, Maine. While Buck Wilton is a political neophyte, he is well-known and respected in rural SE New Hampshire (as mentioned earlier), and has been involved in local government somewhat, using his clout to support local works projects and the like. Wilton has many close friends among the farmers in the area thanks to his business's emphasis on relationships between the client and the seller, and is very willing to hand out discounts to people he likes and trusts. He's also known for occasionally having a fiery temperament, which can be triggered or aggravated by his chronic back pain.

Political Record: Wilton has not been involved much in politics, and thus does not have much of a political record. However (off the public record), he is a Republican of the populist strain, taking centrist positions on economic issues (and notably, on the Iraq War) while remaining socially conservative on issues such as immigration and gun rights. Wilton's campaign is self-described as a 'crusade for the working American'. In terms of on-record votes and political donations, Wilton has generally donated to and supported Republican candidates, particularly John McCain in 2000. However, Wilton voted for Perot in 1992, citing anger at the corporatist two-party duopoly.

Visual Description: 6'1", blue eyes, rugged gray hair, prefers to wear camo jacket and khaki pants, occasionally with army medals

Additional Information: Vietnam War injuries have caused him to have chronic back pain (due to getting shot), currently being treated but may flare up during campaign. Wilton is also known as a generous employer, though he allegedly firing a female worker in 1987 for getting an abortion (currently under wraps).

Love it! Accepted!

[McGovernite]

Any idea when gameplay will start?

[KaiserDave]

Any idea when gameplay will start?

I’ll have the thread up in a couple of days
Before 2021

[McGovernite]

Any idea when gameplay will start?

I’ll have the thread up in a couple of days
Before 2021

coolio

[KaiserDave]

The game thread is on the way! Expect it tomorrow or the day after that.

[McGovernite]

Campaign Logo

Credit to Myself for the Photo

[S019]

Name: Benjamin Smith
Gender: Male
Age and DOB: February 10, 1966 40
Hometown: Portsmouth, NH
Current Residence: Portsmouth, NH
Political Party: Republican
Occupation: New Hampshire Executive Councilor (District 3)
Background: Smith was born to an influential, upper-class family in Portsmouth in 1966, his father was an influential lobbyist, and regularly traveled to Washington, DC for work. He attended a prestigious boarding school in New York during his school years and graduated at the top of his class. He then attended Harvard University, graduating in 1988, he then attended Harvard Law School and graduated in 1992. After graduating, Smith set up his own law firm in Portsmouth
Political Record: Smith volunteered for George H.W. Bush's campaigns in 1988 and 1992, while at Harvard. In 1996, Smith ran for Rockingham County Prosecutor and won the election. In 1996, he also volunteered for and donated to Bob Dole's presidential campaign. He then served two terms in the office, winning re-election in 1998, and in 2000, he ran for the New Hampshire Executive Council from the Third District and won the election, he would serve three terms as Councilor, winning re-election to the Council in 2002 and 2004. On the council, he emerged as a major opponent to the agendas of Democratic governors Jeanne Shaheen and John Lynch, and was a strong supporter of Republican Governor Craig Benson. He also campaigned aggressively for George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004, serving as a key New Hampshire strategist for Bush in both years.
Visual Description: White, 6'3", 175 lbs, blue eyes, black hair

[KaiserDave]

Name: Benjamin Smith
Gender: Male
Age and DOB: February 10, 1966 40
Hometown: Portsmouth, NH
Current Residence: Portsmouth, NH
Political Party: Republican
Occupation: New Hampshire Executive Councilor (District 3)
Background: Smith was born to an influential, upper-class family in Portsmouth in 1966, his father was an influential lobbyist, and regularly traveled to Washington, DC for work. He attended a prestigious boarding school in New York during his school years and graduated at the top of his class. He then attended Harvard University, graduating in 1988, he then attended Harvard Law School and graduated in 1992. After graduating, Smith set up his own law firm in Portsmouth
Political Record: Smith volunteered for George H.W. Bush's campaigns in 1988 and 1992, while at Harvard. In 1996, Smith ran for Rockingham County Prosecutor and won the election. In 1996, he also volunteered for and donated to Bob Dole's presidential campaign. He then served two terms in the office, winning re-election in 1998, and in 2000, he ran for the New Hampshire Executive Council from the Third District and won the election, he would serve three terms as Councilor, winning re-election to the Council in 2002 and 2004. On the council, he emerged as a major opponent to the agendas of Democratic governors Jeanne Shaheen and John Lynch, and was a strong supporter of Republican Governor Craig Benson. He also campaigned aggressively for George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004, serving as a key New Hampshire strategist for Bush in both years.
Visual Description: White, 6'3", 175 lbs, blue eyes, black hair

A Bush disciple! Wonderful! Accepted!

[KaiserDave]

https://talkelections.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=421019.msg7856769#msg7856769

The game thread has landed! There are instructions and information there. Do tell if anything is missing and enjoy!

Please keep discussion and questions here.

And also, sign ups remain open!

[Continential]

Name: Anna Hammond
Gender: Female
Age and DOB: August 2nd, 1952 (53)
Hometown: Boston
Current Residence: Rochester
Political Party: Republican Party
Occupation: State Representative 2001-
Background: The daughter of a Boston city councilor, Hammond was born into a political family and was in high society, marrying a New Hampshire lawyer who turned to politics and became a State Representative in 1987, serving until 2001, when he got diagnosed with cancer, while her husband was a State Representative, Anna, a political wife, was a proud political wife, being a liberal privately, she became good at acting on what she believed in. Anna Hammond has one daughter, Sarah (26) and two twin sons, Scott/Bill (25).
Political Record: She considers herself to be a moderate Republican, being Pro-Choice and being a budget hawk to make sure she isn't primaried.
Visual Description: Faceclaim is Stacey Evans

[KaiserDave]

Name: Anna Hammond
Gender: Female
Age and DOB: August 2nd, 1952 (53)
Hometown: Boston
Current Residence: Rochester
Political Party: Republican Party
Occupation: State Representative 2001-
Background: The daughter of a Boston city councilor, Hammond was born into a political family and was in high society, marrying a New Hampshire lawyer who turned to politics and became a State Representative in 1987, serving until 2001, when he got diagnosed with cancer, while her husband was a State Representative, Anna, a political wife, was a proud political wife, being a liberal privately, she became good at acting on what she believed in. Anna Hammond has one daughter, Sarah (26) and two twin sons, Scott/Bill (25).
Political Record: She considers herself to be a moderate Republican, being Pro-Choice and being a budget hawk to make sure she isn't primaried.
Visual Description: Faceclaim is Stacey Evans

So she's actually a liberal, but she's running for office as a Republican?

[Continential]

Name: Anna Hammond
Gender: Female
Age and DOB: August 2nd, 1952 (53)
Hometown: Boston
Current Residence: Rochester
Political Party: Republican Party
Occupation: State Representative 2001-
Background: The daughter of a Boston city councilor, Hammond was born into a political family and was in high society, marrying a New Hampshire lawyer who turned to politics and became a State Representative in 1987, serving until 2001, when he got diagnosed with cancer, while her husband was a State Representative, Anna, a political wife, was a proud political wife, being a liberal privately, she became good at acting on what she believed in. Anna Hammond has one daughter, Sarah (26) and two twin sons, Scott/Bill (25).
Political Record: She considers herself to be a moderate Republican, being Pro-Choice and being a budget hawk to make sure she isn't primaried.
Visual Description: Faceclaim is Stacey Evans

So she's actually a liberal, but she's running for office as a Republican?

She is a liberal but her persona is a social liberal fiscal conservative, but she is a Republican because her husband is one. It sort is like how some politicians have a "persona" but aren't actually their "persona".

[KaiserDave]

Name: Anna Hammond
Gender: Female
Age and DOB: August 2nd, 1952 (53)
Hometown: Boston
Current Residence: Rochester
Political Party: Republican Party
Occupation: State Representative 2001-
Background: The daughter of a Boston city councilor, Hammond was born into a political family and was in high society, marrying a New Hampshire lawyer who turned to politics and became a State Representative in 1987, serving until 2001, when he got diagnosed with cancer, while her husband was a State Representative, Anna, a political wife, was a proud political wife, being a liberal privately, she became good at acting on what she believed in. Anna Hammond has one daughter, Sarah (26) and two twin sons, Scott/Bill (25).
Political Record: She considers herself to be a moderate Republican, being Pro-Choice and being a budget hawk to make sure she isn't primaried.
Visual Description: Faceclaim is Stacey Evans

So she's actually a liberal, but she's running for office as a Republican?

She is a liberal but her persona is a social liberal fiscal conservative, but she is a Republican because her husband is one. It sort is like how some politicians have a "persona" but aren't actually their "persona".

I see. I'll let this play out but I'm watching. Accepted.

[NewYorkExpress]

I'm willing to handle Primary and General Election debates when the time comes for such debates to occur.

If I were allowed to do them, they probably would start in January or February, in-game.

[KaiserDave]

Turns are due at the end of this weekend!

Sign ups remain open!

[KaiserDave]

Turns due at midnight. Next turn will run from October 1st to New Year's Day and will include a debate. Looking forward!

Sign ups remain open until the RL filing deadline

[Alcibiades]

Turns due at midnight. Next turn will run from October 1st to New Year's Day and will include a debate. Looking forward!

Sign ups remain open until the RL filing deadline

OK, so the current turn doesn’t include the month of October?

[KaiserDave]

Turns due at midnight. Next turn will run from October 1st to New Year's Day and will include a debate. Looking forward!

Sign ups remain open until the RL filing deadline

OK, so the current turn doesn’t include the month of October?

No but people are not going To be penalized for including it

I’ve gone ahead of schedule too in games

[KaiserDave]

People who need an extension are welcome to post their schedule in the next turn. I'm flexible just don't wait too long.

[BGBC]

Name: David McLeod
Gender: Male
Age and DOB: 35 years old, October 12th, 1970
Hometown: Concord, NH
Current Residence: Portsmouth, NH
Political Party: Republican Party
Occupation: Seafood Processor, Junior ROTC Instructor
Background: McLeod was born in Concord, New Hampshire, the son of Jeffrey McLeod and Diana McLeod, to a devout Catholic family of Scottish-Irish ancestry, native to the state since the Revolutionary War. Born into a quant, working-class household, his family had never registered under a political party, frequently voting differently in Presidential elections, and David, himself, had not registered as a Republican until 2003. After graduating from Concord High School in 1989, McLeod married his high-school sweetheart Lisa McLeod, and, subsequently, his father, a Vietnam War veteran, played a major impact on his decision to enter the U.S Marines, accompanied by his only other sibling, Josh McLeod, who entered the U.S Air Force. McLeod served 11 years in the Marines, starting as an enlisted soldier before going through officer training and rising to the rank of Sergeant and earning a bronze star, before retiring from the Armed Forces.
After returning home to New Hampshire, McLeod found an occupation at a local seafood plant in Portsmouth and a part-time job as a Junior ROTC Instructor, though he intends to resign from the latter with interest in running for Congress. He's also helped establish a social services non-profit, the Portsmouth Empowerment Action and Development, which engaged in community cleanup, Christmas toy drives, providing meals for the needy, and raising money for shoes for kids. Since then, him and his family have had two new kids, Calvin and Rose McLeod. He's stayed very active in the local Catholic Church and emphasizes much of his faith in his volunteer work, coupled with a growing interest in political activism (which will be touched on in the political record section). He has, though, struggled with reoccurring problems of alcoholism and effects related to PTSD.
Political Record: Though he had not shown interest in politics in his early adult years, McLeod cast his first vote for George H.W Bush in 1988, then Bill Clinton both times in the 1990s, but after retiring from the Marines, he officially registered Republican, became active in his local Republican Party chapter and volunteered for George W. Bush's campaign in 2004. As he's become more active in his community with volunteer work, he's also joined political activism, including recently defending Bush's CAFTA agreement in a local newspaper op-ed. As a devout catholic, he is stubbornly socially conservative, defending traditional marriage, gun rights and the right to life, but he also takes up the more compassionate conservative line on economics in line with President Bush. However, he pushes a more populist tone when talking about such issues, critiquing politicians who 'don't fall in line with New Hampshire values.' He hopes to capitalize on his charming upbringing, veteran background, public service reputation, and New Hampshire-centric campaign to win over voters in the 1st Congressional District.
Visual Description: Caucasian, black buzz cut, 6'0; character claim is Richard Ojeda.

Hope it's not too late to join. I spent a while on this description.

[KaiserDave]

Name: David McLeod
Gender: Male
Age and DOB: 35 years old, October 12th, 1970
Hometown: Concord, NH
Current Residence: Portsmouth, NH
Political Party: Republican Party
Occupation: Seafood Processor, Junior ROTC Instructor
Background: McLeod was born in Concord, New Hampshire, the son of Jeffrey McLeod and Diana McLeod, to a devout Catholic family of Scottish-Irish ancestry, native to the state since the Revolutionary War. Born into a quant, working-class household, his family had never registered under a political party, frequently voting differently in Presidential elections, and David, himself, had not registered as a Republican until 2003. After graduating from Concord High School in 1989, McLeod married his high-school sweetheart Lisa McLeod, and, subsequently, his father, a Vietnam War veteran, played a major impact on his decision to enter the U.S Marines, accompanied by his only other sibling, Josh McLeod, who entered the U.S Air Force. McLeod served 11 years in the Marines, starting as an enlisted soldier before going through officer training and rising to the rank of Sergeant and earning a bronze star, before retiring from the Armed Forces.
After returning home to New Hampshire, McLeod found an occupation at a local seafood plant in Portsmouth and a part-time job as a Junior ROTC Instructor, though he intends to resign from the latter with interest in running for Congress. He's also helped establish a social services non-profit, the Portsmouth Empowerment Action and Development, which engaged in community cleanup, Christmas toy drives, providing meals for the needy, and raising money for shoes for kids. Since then, him and his family have had two new kids, Calvin and Rose McLeod. He's stayed very active in the local Catholic Church and emphasizes much of his faith in his volunteer work, coupled with a growing interest in political activism (which will be touched on in the political record section). He has, though, struggled with reoccurring problems of alcoholism and effects related to PTSD.
Political Record: Though he had not shown interest in politics in his early adult years, McLeod cast his first vote for George H.W Bush in 1988, then Bill Clinton both times in the 1990s, but after retiring from the Marines, he officially registered Republican, became active in his local Republican Party chapter and volunteered for George W. Bush's campaign in 2004. As he's become more active in his community with volunteer work, he's also joined political activism, including recently defending Bush's CAFTA agreement for it's positive effects on New Hampshire industry. As a devout catholic, he is stubbornly socially conservative, defending traditional marriage, gun rights and the right to life, but he also takes up the more compassionate conservative line on economics in line with President Bush. However, he pushes a more populist tone when talking about such issues, critiquing politicians who 'don't fall in line with New Hampshire values.' He hopes to capitalize on his charming upbringing, veteran background, public service reputation, and New Hampshire-centric campaign to win over voters in the 1st Congressional District.
Visual Description: Caucasian, black buzz cut, 6'0; character claim is Richard Ojeda.

Hope it's not too late to join. I spent a while on this description.

No problem! Accepted!