Alana Largo

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Alana Largo was a major Terran political figure in the late 26th century. She was the 11th President of The Terran Republic

Early Life

Born in 2525 on the Ceres Colony in the Jovian Belt, Alana Largo was born to middle class parents who had worked in the mining industry. Her father was a minor executive with EDN and her mother was a shipping agent on Titan.
Alana was a strong student in high school, growing up on Titan where she was the editor of the high school newspaper and she was Vice President of the high school "council."
Alana was politically active from her teens, attending SDP events on Titan and becoming a dues paying member of the party at eighteen years old.
Alana attended the University of Chicago on a partial scholarship and graduated near the top of her class, with a BA in journalism with a minor in political science. She was active in student politics and served as a "cub reporter" for the College newspaper and media channel.
Alana married fellow journalist Chanlder Templeton. The two have one son, Callan and have two dogs, Jupiter & Saturn.

Journalist

Out of college, Alana applied for several top media jobs but was rejected by Lnxx and Accolade, in part due to her open political leaning. In the end, she got a role as a reporter for "Call Clarion" , a very minor left wing media outlet.
Alana established a reputation as a bold, enterprising journalist and she was assigned to cover the Dhaka City Council, then moved to her native Jovian belt to cover sessions of the Jovian legislature from her home-world of Titan.
Alana established good working relationships with politicians, journalists and corporate lobbyists.

Politics

Alana had a long history of being involved in politics as a student. She interned in the office of GA Rep Malcolm Maddox in the summer of her sophomore year in college.
Alana was approached to write speeches for Senator Darlene Kaufman (SDP). Alana made a big impression and after the 2560 campaign, she was hired by Senator Kaufman to work in her senate office, initially as a press agent.
Alana established a reputation as a sparky, bold go-getter of a staffer for Senator Kaufman, who promoted her to the role of Press Secretary and Senior-Counsel in 2563.
Alana also built up her reputation amongst the Jovian legislature and members of the SDP and despite being Senator Kaufman's protege, she was seen as her "own woman" with a less "third way" way of thinking than her mentor.
In 2569 she began to build a campaign for Governor of the Jovian Colonies and was backed by Senator Kaufman for the run. She was nominated by the SDP and won the election.

Governor of the Jovian Belt

Alana Largo was sworn in as Governor of the Jovian Belt in 2570. She installed long-time friend and lawyer Miranda Ballinger as her chief of staff.
Governor Largo had to deal with the pressing issue of the 2nd Zzenddi War and the impact this had on the mining trade in the Sol system and the Jovian Belt.
She worked closely with Governor Nurih Safin (SDP) of Earth and Lt-Governor Melissa Takahara (VE) of Mars to ensure there was joined up thinking during the war, which peaked with the invasion of the Sol system in 2576.
As the war wound down, Governor Largo concentrated her efforts on rebuilding the damaged infrastructure of the Jovian Belt, thought it was far less badly damaged than the infrastructure around Mars and Earth. She also made a big push to increase access to housing, schools and health care.
She made several corporate partnerships to help deliver affordable services and she clashed with members of the legislature on the left and the right. Valiant members called for the services to be wholly privatized whilst left wing members of SDP called for them to be wholly state-owned.
As 2580 approached, Governor Largo's name was mentioned as a possible long-shot challenger for the SDP nomination. However, Governor Largo ruled out running for the SDP nomination, apparently on the advice of her mentor Senator Kaufman.

The 2580 SDP Convention

At the tumultous 2580 SDP convention, most pundits believed that the SDP nomination was Governor Nurih Safin's to lose. The prominent and wealthy Governor of Earth had done a good job locking up much of the party leadership behind him and despite a somewhat luke-warm reception from the rank and file, it seemed certain he would win, especailly as his only token opposistion was little known back-bencher Represetnative Baxter Green.
However, as the floor settled down for the first votes, a motion was called by the Jovian delegation to "nominate a candidate for President". The delegation then nominated their own Governor, Alana Largo to a huge applause.
Her nomination was seconded by the Martian delegation and she was added to the ballot. Rep Green then spoke to "withdraw his name from the ballot and endorse Governor Largo, a true progressive member of the SDP".
The first ballot saw Safin win comfortably but not with enough of the delegates to clinch the nomination. A second ballot was called with the numbers holding more or less the same. Rear Admiral Ostor Malouf, a senate candidate on Whitworth, was able to push his own delegation to break with Safin and get behind Largo and the numbers moved to a tie.
A fourth ballot saw Largo continue to gain support. Senator Johnston Coady of Eden also endorsed Governor Largo and that was the moment the damn broke. The teachers union formally switched their support from Safin to Largo and in the 5th ballot, Alana Largo of the Jovian Belt was confirmed as the SDP's nominee.
Governor Largo selected Rep Branwyne Swayne (SDP) as her running mate. Governor Largo gave a passionate speech, pushing the values of the SDP and "Progressives everywhere".
Governor Safin backed Governor Largo for President in a gracious move for party unity.

SDP Nominee

At the start of the 2580 campaign, the SDP were polling at around 14-15% of the General Assembly but were still seen as the most likely left-wing party to win the presidency. However, the release of the Dhaka Papers did damage to the SDP's support, though not nearly as much as it did to Gurava.
The SDP campaign stayed positive, concentrating on its policy goals and staying "above the fray". During a particularly bitter and divisive election, fraught with contreversey, Governor Largo and her campaign stayed away from the character attacks made by other party's.
A big moment in the campaign came when Librarius, polling at around 4% of the national vote, agreed a merger into the SDP. The boost in support gave the SDP momentum for the rest of the campaign and their support peaked at around 20%.
On election day, the SDP finished top of the polls at 18% and Governor Largo was seen by most as the "Next President of the Republic".

President of the Republic

After coalition talks that lasted over a month, the SDP was able to form a coalition bringing the Republcian Centrist Party , Vishnu Elpis , Isolationist Party . Alana Largo was sworn in on May 19 2580.
President Largo appointed former labor lawyer Harriet Kinglsey as her chief of staff who assembled her staff, largely from senior members of the 2580 campaign team.
Senior Staff

• Chief of staff to the President - Harriet Kinglsey (SDP)
• Deputy Chief of Staff - Dejan Woth (SDP)
• Senior Counsel - Bridie Wallender (SDP)
• Communications Director -Christian Calvert (SDP)
• Press Secretary - Mixa Turvonnen (SDP)
• Legal Counsel to the President - Layton Heitkamp (SDP)

First Largo Cabinet

• Vice President - Branwyne Swayne (SDP)
• Attorney General -Gabriel Fayn (ISO)
• Secretary of Defence -Danicca Wool (VE)
• Foreign Secretary - Hayley Rush (SDP)
• Treasury Secretary-Shartlo Sorenson (RCP)
• Interior Secretary -Annette Hagan (SDP)
• Intelligence Secretary -Hutton Banks (IND)

The Budget Crisis

The new incoming Largo administration faced an intense budget crisis, with huge outstanding bills for reconstruction, dealing with wartime losses and burying Zzenddi corpses.
Treasury Secretary Sharlto Sorenson (RCP) with the backing of the President took out extensive loans from private sources, rejecting an offer from the Tazzyn to cover the costs and hopefully stimulate the economy.
This drew strong criticism from Ravenheart for "kicking the problem down the road".

Dhau Border Confrontation

The Dhau Empire accused the Grey Strider tribe, who are part of the Terran Republic, of piracy and threatened a border incursion. The Secretary of Defence, Danicca Wool, deployed two task forces to the system and the Dhau appeared to back down.
Meanwhile the Republic negotiated with the CCN allies to expand the alliance and bring the Gannid Commonwealth into the alliance, which was projected to happen in 2585.

2nd Largo Cabinet

President Largo confirmed a new cabinet in mid 2585. This process was complicated after her administration originally stated that Treasury Secretary Sharlto Sorenson (RCP) would be asked to stay on. However, the press broke a story that his family had been involved in corruption and he was removed from the Republican Centrist Party and then resigned from his bost.
The President's Chief of Staff, Rebecca Kingsley, confirmed she would be stepping down. She was replaced by the Communications Director, Christian Calvert. Long time political strategist and SDP icon Bridie Wallender also announced she was retiring from front-line politics in 2585.
Senior Staff

• Chief of staff to the President - Christian Calvert (SDP)
• Deputy Chief of Staff - Dejan Woth (SDP)
• Senior Counsel - Sara Paxton (SDP)
• Communications Director -Josephus Jarelli SDP)
• Press Secretary - Anders Kenning (SDP)
• Legal Counsel to the President - Horst McKenna (IND)

Second Largo Cabinet

• Vice President - Branwyne Swayne (SDP)
• Attorney General -Madeline Cruz (ISO)
• Secretary of Defence -Colburn Keane (VE)
• Foreign Secretary - Hayley Rush (SDP)
• Treasury Secretary-Thadeus Smythe (RCP)
• Interior Secretary -Veight Gourcoff (SDP)
• Intelligence Secretary -Michelle Lozinzka (IND)

Reiner Grumman's Arrest

Former ambassador Reiner Grumman (GUR) was implicated in espionage charges and a search warrant was issued on New Berlin. Reiner Grumman, initially, was outside of the Republic's jurisdiction in Tranoan space but he later returned and was arrested and formally charged with epsionage.

Attempted Coup

In early 2586 there was an attempted coup, which was narrowly thwarted after Brigadier General Isaac Tancredo provided evidence that Lord Aurelian Sondeheim had been plotting a coup, working with senior Navy officers including Admiral Isabella Sondeheim.
The government went into its continuity of government response, with President Largo and several cabinet members moved to a secure site in Lhassa City and Vice President Swayne moved to a military base in Houston.
Admiral Sondeheim was later arrested along with many of her conspirators. However, a consequences of the attempted coup was a "stop in place" order to all fleet commands which prevented the Republic Navy from aiding the Gannid in their border confrontation with the Dhau.
Secretary of Defence Colburn Keane (VE) was arrested and removed form his post, over initial protests from the VE floor delegation. Attorney General Madeline Cruz (ISO) issued an arrest warrant for Lord Sondeheim which he refused to comply with, staying on Tyr.
As a result of the coup there was a sharp market downturn, with around 10% lost on the NASDEQ. There were also a huge number of short-sells made by unscrupulous corporations and brokers.
This also fed seperatist sentinment.

With the arrest of Secretary Keane, he was later replaced by retired Navy officer Lambert Westcarr (SDP). This was protested by the VE delegation but President Largo stood firm.

Gannid Withdrawal from CCN

Due to the Dhau's border aggression and the failure of the CCN alliance to deploy to aid the Gannid, the Gannid "postponed" their membership into the CCN alliance.
This was seen as a major foreign policy failure for the administration.

"Snow" Plague

In 2587 there were outbreaks on several worlds of the SNO111 virus. This extremely dangerous virus was later proved tobe a Zzenddi bio-weapon, left behind in the bodies of Zzenddi warforms. The virus, which mutates constantly and rewrites the victims DNA, causes death in 50% of cases and blindness in nearly all of them.
Quarantines were put in place on all affected worlds, generally done at a local level and the Largo administration was sharply criticized for its failure to take a leadership posisition on this issue.
A vacine was issued through various corporations and by 2589, the virus had been contained and was receding. Around 22 million Terrans had died as a result of the virus.
Sections of the press carried a story going into 2589 that the Largo administration was aware of the "Snow Plague" and took no significant action.

Seperatist Crisis

The ongoing issues with the seperatists continue to escalate, with the Republic apparently totally powerles to do anything about it. The Camp Inchon affair on St Lawrence continued to rumble on as Governor Moreland attempted but failed to get the seperatist faction to the table.
Meanwhile there were issues developing on Mars, Earth, New Carthage, the Jovian belt and elsewhere
The seperatist factions met on St Lawrence at Fort Perry and formed a rough agreement as the "Sepertaist Worlds Alliance" (SWA). They issued a list of demands to the Republic and a secession crisis appeared to have been reached, with Governor Morrow on Vanheim appearing to be on the verge of seceding from the Republic.

End of Term

President Largo had suffered several bouts of ill health during her later term and she confirmed in May of 2589 that she would neither seek or accept any party's nomination for President in 2590. She stated she would complete her term and then retire from politics.
President Largo enjoyed reasonably good job approval numbers but the polls going into 2590 showed a disaster for nearly every party involved in the government and a potential "realignment election" as radical party's appeared to be likely to win in 2590.

Post Presidency

President Largo publicly backed her Vice President, Branwyne Swayne, during the 2590 election and supported her at the convention but played a low key role at the convention.
After this, she took up a role as a guest lecturer at the University of Athens, Redfall College on Mars and Titan Community College.
Alana also joined the board of directors at the Ekto Foundation, a not-for-profit consultancy.
She ruled out seeking the SDP nomination in 2600 and, during a press event, said she had "no intention of seeking elected office again."

Species

Human

Year of Birth

2525 65 Years old

Birthplace

Ceres

Aligned Organization

Social Democratic Party

Other Affiliations

• The Terran Republic