The New Mayor (Open: Ponyville)

[SteelEagle]

OOC- See Event for Votes

 

The voting had lasted long into the night, with her overworked volunteers giving it their all and the Mayor herself pacing around the building and answering questions as best she could. Truth be told she wasn't really needed here except a figurehead. Ballots were checked by magical aura and any questions could be answered any number of ways by the specialists on hoof. Less than fifty ballots had any questions raised and only two of them had significant issues that required any real additional work. By the time the night was done however the counting was done and redone and the results were clear as day. All that remained was the announcement.

 

Late at night with what seemed like the whole town gathered outside, Mayor Mare raised her hoof and waved one last time as their Mayor before announcing who it was who was to replace. She approached the podium, coughed to clear her throat, and began speaking.
"Thank you everypony for participating in this momentous occasion, not the least of which includes the two candidates who ran good, hard campaigns. An election to decide who runs a town in Equestria is somewhat rare and Ponyville is proud to have run this election without any great issue. The votes have been tallied by a volunteer staff and I am happy to announce that we can announce a definitive winner in this election.

 

More than five thousand, five hundred ponies voted in this year's election. With a final tally of 3,011 votes to 2,569 votes, the winner of this election is candidate, and now Mayor-Assented, Spoiled Rich. This result will now be sent to Princess Twilight Sparkle who will review Mayor Rich and give her Royal Assent to Rule before the end of the year. I thank both candidates for their efforts, their campaigns, and their work for the future of Ponyville," she said. A moment later a roar of applause erupted from one segment of the crowd and the stomping of hooves signified everycreature's acceptance.

Ponyville had selected her next Mayor: Mayor Spoiled Rich!

[Blueblood]

 

As if there had ever been any doubt.

 

Of course, Spoiled Rich tried not to look too smug.  The election was over, and there was no need to gloat or be a bad sport.  After all, once her administration began, she would need somepony, or more likely someponies to fill all the council and committee seats she sat upon, as her plot was now reserved for the big chair.  She had plans, ambitious plans, and those would require voluntary cooperation on the part of her fellow citizens, not all of whole could, evidently, be trusted to make the right decision.  *I mean, really, over 15% of a margin is technically a landslide, but how the heck did he get more than 2000 votes?*  Eh, not worth fussing over.  Not when the Wildlife Security Committee needed a new chairstallion.

 

She already had her acceptance speech prepared, but it was considered gauche to give it before the Royal Grant came in.  For now, she simply stomped her hooves with the rest of her supporters, before going up to her former opponent.  "Well, that's that, isn't it?  Congratulations on doing as well as you did.  I imagine we'll have much more opportunity to discuss things more in your wheelhouse later.  Wildlife Security is going to be an increasingly relevant issue for this growing town, after all!"

[StrongCopper]

Strong Copper

 

While it was true that Strong Copper was mildly disappointed at having come so far before losing, considering he was a newcomer to Ponyville and had managed to make a fairly good showing regardless against someone who had stronger local roots he could at least walk away from this defeat with his head held high. Turning to his opponent for the office, he respectfully bowed his head. "Indeed. While I confess I never expected to actually win, I can't complain with how well my run went. At any rate, congratulations on your victory. I can only hope that your reign as Mayor of Ponyville is as popular and well remembered as Mayor Mare's own." He offered politely in return.

 

After all, there wasn't any point in burning any bridges with the local government just because he hadn't won an election. Depending on how things went, he could easily be a front runner for the next election once he had a bit more in the way of roots in town anyway. "The only thing about the election I found curious was the fact that I know for a fact that several other ponies signed up, but they never spoke up or showed up to the debates. Wonder what made them change their minds so quickly."

[Blueblood]

Spoiled Rich

It was good to see Strong Copper take his loss in the proper spirit.  Spoiled felt comfortable enough to unclench her last tense muscles, and begin the process of taking him into her confidence.  "A lot of it comes down to how well they can sustain commitment in the field.  I spend most of my time and effort in local civics in any case, and unless there's a special call for your services, you have a lot of free time.  Everypony else in this town has either a farm or a shop to run most days.  You notice how not everypony came to every debate?  There's only so many days off most ponies can justify."  It was why she wasn't upset when her husband couldn't show up to provide moral support at every one of her events.  The stallion had his own work to do for the family, after all.   It was also why Diamond's plans to scupper other opponents were quashed; they just weren't necessary, if one was patient.

 

"Speaking of which, keep your calendar open for the next few days.  I'd like to make your position here a little more formal as soon as I can.  You never know what or when things are coming out of the Everfree here."

[Aisede]

"Actually," A voice made itself known with a raised hoof for emphasis. A strikingly green unicorn stepped forth, addressing the new Mayor. "I may have a solution for the Everfree problem."

 

The alchemist was girded with her ever-present satchels, vials and formulas visible in their pouches. She hadn't really made much of a name for herself yet, but maybe this would help advertise her expertise. If it worked, that is. "Might I propose we build a fence bordering the Everfree In problematic areas? Locations where creatures regularly emerge. I'd need to know what comes out of the forest, and with what frequency, but if we added a repellent to the structure, it should dissuade most monsters from leaving their shady home."

 

It was just an idea. The fence doesn't even really need to be able to withstand a monster attack, it just has to repel them. 

[StrongCopper]

Turning his head towards the pony whom had deemed fit to join his conversation with Spoiled, Strong Copper tilted his head as he listened to what she had to say. The idea of developing fences in key locations along the broader between the Everfree and Ponyville in order to mildly inconvenience most predators and thus discourage them from seeking to enter Ponyville proper had been one of his plans for the Mayorship... but the inclusion of chemical repellents in order to act as further incentive to stay away was an improvement upon his own designs.  

 

However, at this point in time, the issue was not his to deal with. Instead he offered the newly elected Mayor Rich some breathing room as he respectfully took a few steps to the side. "You've been mayor for less then three minutes and already the public is clamoring for your attention. I'll await news of an official appointment in the next few days. Take care, Mayor Rich." 

[Blueblood]

Spoiled Rich

 

The unicorn that approached her was quite unknown to Spoiled, which marked her as either a newcomer, or else somepony who was a real shut-in before today.  "Thank you, miss.  And you are...?"  She asked with raised brow, but mostly friendly and open tone.  Being approached as one in a position of importance did much to mollify her mood.  And this only five minutes after having her election win confirmed?  She could definitely get used to this.  

The proposed solution was also one much to her liking.  Civic constructions she could put her name in, rather than sporadic heroics distributing credit and glory in a semi-random fashion.  "Well, when I next convene the Wildlife Security committee, I'll have the records brought out.  Or, if you want to look over them yourself, my secretary at Town Hall can get them for you."  Technically, they wouldn't be her secretary until Princess Twilight confirmed her appointment, but really, work like this shouldn't be delayed for formalities.

 

Nodding to Strong Copper, she made her way to the stage.  She'd resolved not to wait on her acceptance speech after all.  At least the part where she expressed gratitude towards the voters who made the right choice.  "Very well then, I shall let you know."

 

Reaching the stage, she stopped to talk with her old friend.  "Well, I suppose this is the official transition.  Does it feel real yet, Marey?"

[Aisede]

"Rose Compass, local alchemist, at your service!" She chirped, happy to be of help. She listened carefully to what the new Mayor had to say before striking a remarkably formal salute, even if her face didn't reflect the serious gesture. "Thank you, I'll be sure to review them. Until then, I shall bid you adieu. Adiós ~"

 

And with that, the green mare's endless work continued, this time taking her to the town hall. She remembered going there once or twice as part of becoming a denizen of Ponyville, but she was largely independent, and thus didn't have to refer to their office all that often. 

[SteelEagle]

 

 

Mayor Mare had to resist the powerful urge to try and involve herself in the discussions the new Mayor was having with her soon-to-be citizens. Old habits died hard, but she had been through more than enough to hold her tongue as she allowed herself to fade into the background. She knew that Mayor Rich would need to hash out her administration and try to get the right ponies in the right places, and for all of that it looked like she was getting to it very quickly. Even approaching the defeated candidate Copper to see whether he would like to involve himself? Very smooth. Not that she had any doubt about that. For anything else anypony could say about her nopony could deny that she was driven, focused, and capable. Hopefully the angels of her better nature would lead her into success and away from the honeytrap of personal gain.

 

"Oh, it hasn't sunk in fully just yet," Mayor Mare responded as Rich trotted her way over. It wasn't lost on her that Marey was used and not her full title but whether that was Rich's sometimes well-earned friendliness or a jab, Mayor Mare didn't know just yet. "I don't think it will set in until I'm drinking on the beach in the Gallopagus," she said with a laugh, "though I'm sure by then you'll have this all figured out. Replacing a whole administration can be tough work but I have resources I will share with you. Think of anything in particular you have any concerns or questions about?"

[Blueblood]

Spoiled Rich

Spoiled chuckled at her old friend's sense of not quite feeling retired yet.  "Oh, I imagine I'll still knock on my own office door before entering for the first few days myself.  Still, Marey, you've done good work and have earned your retirement.  Don't worry about a thing."  She meant it all sincerely, a rarity for her character, perhaps, but Mayor Mare was a friend to one who had so few of those.  "I do want to have a long chat over coffee with you before you leave for the islands, but that can wait for now."  Best to have long policy discussions in more comfortable, and more private, settings.  This time and this place was for the public, and it was to the public that Spoiled Rich's next words were addressed:

 

"Fellow Citizens, I am honored today to address you as your Mayor-elect.  As some of you have perhaps now just discovered, I am a mare who takes her civic duties, and therefore her duties to you all, seriously.  And I can promise you, that all who treat the project of this town's growth, prosperity, and protection with equal seriousness will find a partner in City Hall."  

No need to bloviate on stage when you could say all you meant in three sentences.  She wasn't going to make a show of it here and now.  That was for the swearing-in ceremony!