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by Erinor. . 515 reads.

July 2018 Delegate Election - Round Two

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Delegate Elections
July 2018 - Round Two
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Voting Procedure

As per the Charter of the Coalition of the South Pacific:

3. Office of The Delegate

(1) The Delegate will be elected in a two-step process, with the Assembly voting on a slate of nominees on the forums, and the top two candidates in that process being voted on by regional poll on-site.

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(3) After receiving the top two candidates in the forum election, the sitting Delegate will create a week-long regional poll accessible to Native World Assembly members, instructing them to vote for their preferred candidate.
a. A Dispatch containing the campaigns of both candidates will be created to aid voters in their choice.
b. The candidate who wins a majority of the votes will be declared the Delegate-elect.

Accordingly, I have now opened up a regional poll, accessible to all native* WA members in the South Pacific.

The poll opened at 00:00 BST on Saturday 14th July and will remain open for seven days, closing at 00:00 BST on Saturday 21st July 2018. The poll has only two options: Tsunamy or Tim Stark.

Please vote for whichever candidate you would prefer to be your delegate for the next six months.

Each candidate's campaign dispatches are listed below. I advise you to read them carefully and consider asking the candidates any questions you may have before you place your vote. They are both accessible via the Regional Message Board or via telegram. If posting on the RMB, please remember to mention their nations using the nation tag to ensure they receive your message.

*Native means that the nation has more influence (measured in SPDR) in the South Pacific than in any other region.

Candidate Campaigns

Tsunamy's campaign:

This election cycle, we have a wonderful mix of new and old (but not as old as me!) people running to be delegate!

But, I'm going to try and make this simple.

You know me. You love me.

Let's talk about why you should vote for me.

It'll be an easy A.

Skeptical Voter: So, tsu? Again? Didn't he just lose to that shark guy?

Yes, yes again. We know I run a super stable region and that will continue to be the case. Maybe we'll dig into the archives and pull out a few coup Tuesdays, but I'm a delicious known quantity. Consider me the Starbucks of delegates. Tasty, reliable and easy available. Sometimes you're going to go try that new thing, but tsu's still there -- just in case.

SV: So, you're comfortable and easy?

And, relatively cheap! Will work for gift cards!

SV: That's ... um ... great, but why should we vote for you?

Beyond being reliable, I know what I'm doing and willing to give the job 110%. I'll welcome people to the region. I'll help the Local Council. Heck, I'll even vote in World Assembly polls!

SV: But ... that's your job?

Yes, it is! And that's why I'll do it!

SV: So ... you'll do the job?

Yes! Absolutely! I will get the job done.

SV: So, is that all?

Kinda. You all know I'm a hands off kinda guy. We have Farengeto and the Cabinet doing all the political and alliances and stuff and we'll have The Solar System Scope and the rest of the Local Council promoting activity and all, so my goal will be to help them when they ask for it and otherwise stay out of the way.

SV: But Erinor did more. Why are you so lazy?

He did because he was a phenomenal delegate! My goal will be to keep out endorsements rising and promoting the World Assembly like he did! I like it!

Also, I'm hoping for some better days. my personal goal will be to build bridges between the RMB community and the offsite community. This has been my pet project for the better part of 15 years, so I look forward to having an official platform to do it again.

Anyhow, skeptical voters that's why you should vote for me! Elle Woods: future lawyer for the class of 2004. tsu for delegate of The South Pacific!

However, I'm happy to take questions from the region! I'll post the questions and responses below!

In the meantime, thanks for taking the time to read and I hope I've earned your vote!

-tsu


Answers to questions presented during the delegate debate (which I missed due to RL commitments).

So -- as I've said several times, I was on vacation -- but now that I'm back I thought it might be useful to answer the questions from the debate. (Thanks to @Escade for typing these out in her thread ... where I shamelessly jacked the questions.)

1. How do you propose we get more WA involvement?

I think we've been enormous gains in the amount of endorsements within the WA. One of the things we need to keep doing is raising the endorsement cap when able and I think that holds promise to create a fun competition and opportunity to build our numbers. 

Unlike some of the other candidates, I'd be more likely to lead the WA proposal from behind (except the Security Council decisions), but would be in favor of setting up some of the WA development ideas others have proposed.

2. From your campaign, what is the most important project you want to work on?

The connection between the offsite on the RMB region. I know we've already divvied up the Cabinet from the LC, but I think we still need to keep the communication open between them so we all feel like this is the same region. This has long been my soap box and will continue to be something I'd see as important. And, as proof that I live what I preach, my campaign has been promoted as a Dispatch and I've been having convos on the RMB about where we should be going as a region.

3. What do you think the role of the delegate is in cooperation with gameside and forumside and particularly the cabinet? What would you be doing for example?

I think the delegate's view is to be supportive when asked, but to ultimately get out of the way. We have an experienced Cabinet and and will have an experienced LC, so while the delegate should help whenever they are invited and needed, I see the delegate as much more of a support role.

4. What role should the delegate take in regards to working with the LC?

The LC has been managing every well on their own, to be perfectly honest. Between news dispatches and policing the message board, I think it would be an error to say the delegate needs to work with the LC. Again, there are ways and places to help the LC, but I think letting the LC take charge of that in important. That said, the delegate should be something of a fourth LC member, participating on the RMB and stand ready with the banject button for the undesirables. 

5. Do you feel your activity has been sufficient over the past few months prior to the delegate campaign?

Absolutely. I try to keep a low profile because of RL things, but I check into NS — the region, the forums and Discord — every morning and usually every evening. I think it's a 

6. How do the candidates feel about the Biscuit Republic of Warzone Australia?

Biscuits should only be buttery.

7. What sort of RMB activity do you deem sufficient?

We have *hundreds* of posts on the RMB. But, the key is to facilitate discussions and (as such) relationships between the nations. We don't want spam for the sake of having posts, but actual discussions, jokes, etc. are all important.

8. What would you say are your three biggest weaknesses?

1. I'm a consensus builder, even when I don't need to be. I don't want people to be excluded or left out.
2. I'm a people pleasure, so I hate to take actions that upset people.
3. I tend to over analyze things and attempt to make arguments for the most generous interpretations, even if that's not the case.

9. What is one thing you have admired about the other candidates?

I don't want to single out people, so I'd sooner paint with a bit of broad brush here. We have amazing candidates running this term. People like Escade, RT and Tim have done a lot for the region and have been involved a long time. I find that admirable — especially in the case of Escade and RT would have had higher positions (delegate, vice delegate) and stayed/come back to take on other roles rather than rest on their laurels. That's admirable.

The rest of the field — Beepee, Amerion, IoU and Ben — are all relatively new, but taking the initiative to get involved and run for delegate. As we all know, it took be nearly a decade to approach the position of delegate, so the ability of newer nations jumping in and going for it I find really admirable, as well.

10. What is one thing you’ll do different then previous delegates?

This question is hard for me to answer since I'd likely do things as I have in the past. Maybe I'd run a better campaign against Seraph? 

11. What is your favorite aspect of TSP?

I've said this elsewhere, but the deep and long lasting connection we have to each other. I love that people still stop in and visit (in the case of Fudge and LR) years after they first got involved.

12. What do you feel is the biggest issue in TSP?

I mentioned this to SB above, but I'm always interested in getting new people involved. We die unless we find new blood with new initiatives and new ideas.

Final Statement:

I know I'm old and I know that works against me. We all know what another turn at delegate will look like from me, but, is that so bad?

I've helped kept the lights on 15 years now and happy to do it some more. Together, we have keep the game fun and friendly, as it should be.

Read dispatch

Tim Stark's campaign:


Tim Stark For Delegate - Campaign Platform
LinkCampaign Thread - Campaign Q&A

Hi Folks, I’m Tim!

This was not a thread I expected to be writing for some time, if I’m being perfectly honest. I don’t think it’s been much of a secret that I was teasing #TimStark2019, but #TimStark2018 was not something even I was particularly expecting. I assumed Seraph would easily win when he ran for re-election, and then when Seraph (Erinor) declined I assumed PS2 (Pencil Sharpeners 2) would easily win when he ran. As we’re all aware by now, neither of them are running.

It took a lot of thought, soul searching, cutting back on other commitments, and advice seeking before I decided that I was interested in running for TSP Delegate this July and would be able to dedicate the time to the role that both it and the best damn GCR out there deserves. Ultimately, I was convinced that this wasn’t a completely terrible idea, so here I am.

I really love TSP, and it’s genuinely my favorite region I’ve actively been involved in for a long while. We have a vibrant community, both on-site and off-site, with so many wonderful individuals and characters who work hard everyday to make us an active, positive and the best damn GCR there is (don’t @ me). From the Festivals to the Assembly, and even to the RP which I admittedly haven’t been sucked into yet, there’s something for everyone. Whether someone is simply interested in hanging out on the RMB, socializing on Discord, RP’ing, getting involved in politics, or one of our many other avenues for activity, I don’t think you can find a single NSer who wouldn’t find what they want in TSP (except Imperialists because all they want is to subvert us).

Anyways, that’s enough introductory chatter I think. Y’all know me and I know most of you, so let’s get down to brass tacks and talk about some campaign goals, ideas, and overall plans.


Tim’s 4 Focuses

Now, you might be thinking right now “Tim you’re totally doing the generic thing where you split your platform into numerous focus points”. You’re right, I am. I’ve flitted back and forth in my opinion on how platforms should be written and organized, and I find this is the best way when there’s a lot to write. In my case, there’s quite a bit to write, so it feels like a necessity for sure.


World Assembly Endorsements

I feel more than comfortable in my ability to not only sustainably continue raising our overall endorsement numbers, but to excel at it. I’ve previously served as Delegate of Osiris for roughly ten months in total, and believe that I can bring my GCR Delegacy experience from that avenue and into this one. While Sinkers deal with a lot less WA nations, they do have to put a lot more effort into getting their WA nations to actually endorse them, so I’m pretty experienced in finding ways to not only have WA nations endorse the Delegate but to have them excited about the WA as well. Ultimately, nations want to know what they get out of the WA. While Regional Security and World Assembly clout is great, that benefits the region, and I really want to work on narratives related to how WA membership benefits our individual. While I’ll expand more on some of these plans more in the next part of my platform, I really want to talk about one particular plan in this segment.

One of the things I think could be most exciting in that WA avenue is USO Vietnam’s WA Development Program that he’s been spearheading the planning and development of. It’s modeled after TNP’s program of a similar vein, and we’ve seen just how ridiculously effective it’s been there. While it’s going to take a lot of work to roll it out, I think it’s a more than worthwhile venture, and one that will pay out dividends in terms of both overall native regional influence and in Delegate and CRS Endorsements, an area I think we have grown in greatly but still have so much more we can achieve. Can TSP one day break 1000 endos? I definitely think it can!


World Assembly Clout

As Osiris Delegate, I became very acquainted with regularly reading the GA forum and keeping up with it. As an active SCer, I already pay attention to that. Let me tell you, the WA is a crazy body, that’s for sure. However, enough about my feelings about the World Assembly. I believe that my goals for developing our WA Culture can be summed up to one word: Clout.

To be clear, I’m referring to the definition that describes clout as “influence or power, especially in politics or business” rather than “a heavy blow with the hand or a hard object.” The latter definition is what’ll happen if somebody tries to stroll in and subvert TSP, the former is what I’d like to grow within our World Assembly culture if elected as Delegate of this beautiful region.

Here are the two main ways I intend to do that:

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1. Vote Early

It’s pretty well-documented that the earlier you vote in the World Assembly, the more your vote is worth. World Assembly votes typically end up going whichever way the major GCR and UCR delegates vote it towards, and the earlier a vote is registered the more effect it’ll have in influencing the global vote. Fortunately, I have the sleep schedule of an irresponsible college student working in the food industry, and already conditioned myself to check for votes from my phone quite regularly during my previous GCR delegacy, so I’d be voting real early into the process each time, only further increasing our global WA influence and direction-setting.

2. Delegate’s Opinion

On top of voting early, I think it’s important to not only keep the regional WA’s happily endorsing the Delegate, but to provide them enough interest that they start actively voting as well. There’s a good chance that would grow TSP’s overall vote even further, and even if people vote the other way it’s still beautiful to have them more involved and more interested in WA ongoings.

To achieve that, I intend to release dispatch and forum posts for every WA proposal that goes to vote. Within them, I will present summarize what the proposal is ultimately doing, why it should or shouldn’t be passed, and ultimately the way I am voting on that matter. I believe that by releasing such information, it can help the TSP population to engage with the WA more easily, and can potentially provide some information and guidance for individuals who aren’t sure how to vote on a particular resolution. I intend to do this for both the GA and the SC, and would look to have my opinion formulated prior to voting, thus ready to post once voting goes up.

_________

In addition, I’d like to, potentially in cooperation with USO Vietnam’s WA Development Plan, have a monthly newsletter for the region specifically focussing on our WA progress in the region. This will include recaps of all WA votes that month, how I (as Delegate) voted on it, as well as details on WA growth in the region and any other notable factors. The World Assembly is some really cool stuff, and marketing it in a vibrant manner to the region could pay dividends for our overall growth and development!


Security

I had the privilege of serving in the Cabinet as Foreign Minister for the two Cabinet terms prior to this one, and really grew to not only appreciate the strengths and goals of the Cabinet, but of our Council for Regional Security as well. While we may have butted heads at times, they’re all individuals with diverse strengths who really care about the overall security of The South Pacific. I’d be very excited for the opportunity to assist them in continuing to keep our beautiful region safe from any threat, subversion, or otherwise unpleasant happenings.

I’m pretty experienced in GCR Security, having been very actively involved in the counter-coup efforts of Osiris in it’s Summer 2013 Gatesville Coup, The South Pacific ourselves when we were couped by Milograd, and Lazarus when it was couped by rogue NPO elements. I was also involved, though on a lesser level, in the recent efforts to liberate Lazarus from Lone Wolves United. If there’s one thing I can give you a 100% assurance on, it’s that there will be no shenanigans like that happening to us. We have a lot of regions who’d seek to do us harm, and there’s no way in hell it’d ever be happening on my watch. TSP, from every issue answerer to Old Guard politician, deserves to enjoy peace, prosperity, and stability.

In addition to this, I would look to develop my relationship with the Local Council, having already spent time hanging out with many of the candidates. I believe that by attaining this close relationship and understanding, I would be at my most effective in assisting with the moderation of the RMB, as well as connecting to the overall RMB community more closely.


Community

The strongest thing about the South Pacific has always been its community. We are a group of diverse players from all over the world, all time zones, all coming together because of our love for some aspect of this game and most often it begins with the people. As delegate I hope to continue building and growing this community feeling on the gameside as well, through activities such as movie nights and TSP-related quizzes, as well as efforts to integrate our gameside community into many festivals and cultural events. One idea I’ve been tossing around is collaborating with the Local Council on some sort of contest to dictate my nation, whether it be a flag design contest for it, or it be an unrelated contest where the winner gets to choose my flag (within reasonable limits). I really want to build on the togetherness that Seraph fostered on the RMB, and strongly believe that my experience and passion can help that succeed.

Another exciting thing that will be occurring during this next upcoming term is N-Day, which we know will be once again occurring in late August. Last year, the UPPERCUT faction that TSP formed with TNP and the NPO narrowly missed out on a first-place finish to the Augustin Alliance’s faction. While I was only tangentially involved with UPPERCUT at the time, mostly via diplomatic negotiations on behalf of my Potato Alliance faction, I would be at the absolute forefront of TSP N-Day events this time. Having been heavily involved with the gameside outreach and overall integration of Spiritus’s RMB Community into the nuclear force, I helped oversee the Potato Alliance to a 3rd Place Finish.I believe that the outreach skills I developed from that event, and many of the others, make more than equipped in connecting and developing stronger bonds between our whole community, gameside and forumside. Our allies from last year have already talked to us about our plans this year. Let’s make TSP and its allies number one this N-Day! I know I can lead us to victory!

I think that, much like Erinor (Seraph) did, I can bring a fresh perspective with motivated goals for the delegacy that will help The South Pacific continue on its trajectory of growth and innovation within the Delegate position.


Anyways, feel free to leave any comments, criticisms, concerns, questions, or otherwise election-relevant remarks below. I’ll do my best to answer all of them as quickly as possible.

-Tim

To see answers to asked questions, please refer to my Q&A Thread:

Read dispatch

Remember: every vote counts!

Erinor

Edited:

RawReport