The following speech was presented live before the Governor's office on the morning of April 28, 2010 by the Rhy'Din Standard calendar system. Video and printed copies were made available to the public shortly after the presentation.

"Citizens of Rhy'Din,

"It is a great honor and a privilege to be standing here before you today as your next elected city Governor. Though I am well aware that the final results of the official polls were very close, it flatters me to know that at least half of you are willing to take the plunge and put your faith in someone new. I will do all in my power to not disappoint those of you who have put your faith in me, and more it is my hope to assuage any fears those who did not may be harboring due to this political change.

"For it is change that this city needs, a change in policies and supportive concentration. During the reign of Governor Simon, much of this government's focus was single-mindedly devoted to the improvement of militaristic defenses. We have seen improvements made to the City Watch and the instatement of the Rhy'Din Air and Space Guard. Yet there was very little concentration on the other needs of our society, and that is where I plan to make a difference.

"When you voted for me, Sheridan Driscol, I know that you were putting your trust in a Governor, not a king. Rhy'Din is not a dictatorship, and I would be a fool to think that I could put forth all that I have planned on my own. So it is with your support by placing me into this position of authority that I will be appointing a cabinet of eight able-bodied and knowledgeable individuals to help me oversee the day-to-day functions of our city, to assist me in making improvements only where necessary. These people will act only through my approval, and yours, as an extension of myself.

"Let this be my first act as Governor, the appointment of a Council of Ministers, should you, the People, find it meets with your approval. Within the week I will have for you a complete list of who precisely these individuals are, and precisely what functions they will provide for the betterment of our society. Know that I will make no decisions without first consulting this panel of advisers, those who will be appointed to speak for you where regarding specific areas of our culture.

"The governing of Rhy'Din is not a job for a single man or woman, a mistake I believe my predecessors made during their terms in office. The needs of our society are too great to be tackled by only one sole individual, though you can put your trust in me to assure that any decisions made will be approved by a majority vote amongst the Council of Ministers at all times. I am not your monarch. I am your Governor. With your support, we shall see a new era in which all voices are heard and every concern of the common citizen looked into.

"Again I thank you for this opportunity, and will do all in my power not to disappoint you. As you have put your trust and faith in me, so do I offer the support that you have been looking for all these short years in which a government has existed in Rhy'Din. I look forward to the challenges that await us in the future, but moreso do I look forward to helping you overcome them."

With those words said, Governor Driscol stepped back from the podium to an array of flashing lights and babble of questioning voices. Members of the City Watch were on hand to form a barrier that prevented anyone from ascending to the stage. The new Governor elect then turned aside to a woman with dark hair, and the pair of them stepped into the main doors of the Governor's Office.

Rumors started to spread soon after this report that after the speech, Governor Driscol's actual first official command to his awaiting staff was, "Yegods. This 'ole place needs a make-over. Anyone know a good interior designer?"



(( Yes, I am looking for actual honest-to-goodness played characters to fill the roles of the Council of Ministers. Another post will be forthcoming that sets forth the proposal of the Minstry and details on which each individual position entails. Interested parties keep your eyes peeled. ))

Duci pushed her way through the crowd, curious as to what Dris had to say. Blonde curls bobbed as she listened, really listened to what the new Governor had to say.

"Council of ministers?" she murmured, her interest piqued. This was very different than the way she pictured it would go.

At the end of the speech, she had to clap. Perhaps he was going to take this much more seriously than she had thought he would.

For now, she had faith. And she looked forward to seeing what changes he would initiate. One last look to the podium as it swarmed with microphones and flashes meant toc onsume the Governor with queries, and she disappeared into the crowd.

Riley had long been fascinated by laws and law-makers. Her stints as both prosecutor and as defense had taught her that very often, law-makers had no real clue about the laws they made, or their impact upon their constituencies. They sorta just...guessed their way through things and often created laws that were no more than stopgap initiatives, meant to perform rather like the little Dutch boy with his finger in the dam.

This guy, though, Governor-Elect Driscol, he seemed to have an innate feeling that laws were meant to prevent, help, and protect, not merely be temporary and of a dubious nature.

"Huh," she said, watching his address on TV that night. "A Council of Ministers" Why is he the first guy in Rhy'Din to think of this" I mean...duh. Even the Senior General of Burma...oh, sorry, I mean Myanmar...has a council. And that's a military dictatorship!"

She glanced side-long at Daniel, who was staring at the TV with sightless eyes. Politics bored him silly and he often sported the dough-nut look when she tried to engage him in discussions. She smiled softly and then leaned over to kiss his cheek. He roused and they went to bed.

Later that night, in the quiet darkness of her loft, with the Leopard dreaming peacefully at her side, Riley considered this Council and whether she could - or indeed, even should - garner a spot on it. She had very unique skills, after all. Perhaps they would be of use to the new Governor and his Council of Ministers. It was certainly worth keeping an eye out for further news of it.