Boys' State Governor Elected

By David Foster, 0083

After blogging and surfing the web yesterday, I attended the Assembly Political Rally at the Student Activities Center. Candidates for statewide political offices were given one last opportunity to give a speech and make an impression on the voters. However, the hall was hot, the fans were noisy, and few people seemed to be listening. The electorate was so inattentive that the presiding officers repeatedly threatened the arrest of noisemakers by campus police.

Nonetheless, voters paid good attention when the two candidates for governor, Federalist Travis Nembhrad and Nationalist Rory Eaton, gave their addresses. Both emphasized the ideals of America and the importance of Democracy. Citizens asked questions, and the race appeared close. It remained close until Rory Eaton sunk his candidacy by providing a condescending answer to a question. Mr. Eaton expressed his disgust at citizens that booed him at the rally, who responded by booing him more.

The assembly ran late and we finally returned to our rooms at about 10:30. After sleep, we ate our breakfast and proceeded to the voting booths. As we waited in line, we voted on Proposition 2 by paper, which would make desecration of the American flag a federal crime. In the booths, we selected candidates and cast our lots for Proposition 1, which would establish random drug testing in schools. My voting booth had a misaligned lever label which I reported after I voted, which probably contributed to more than thirty voters not selecting a Governor.

Election administrators tallied votes while we sat in seminars. The first, second, and third cities each attended separate workshops. Being in a third city, Carpenter in Brieden, I walked with my fellow residents to Hamilton Hall where we met a martial artist. He promoted the Air Force ROTC with inflatable toys that the citizens found amusing.

All counties then reconvened in the Assembly Hall, where last year’s Boys’ State Governor spoke about his experience last year. We sang patriotic songs and then they announced the election results. Nationalists took the positions of Comptroller and Attorney General, and captured four out of seven seats on the Court of Appeals. Federalists did considerably better by electing the Chief Justice, the Lieutenant Governor, and Travis Nembhrad as Governor. Brieden’s Nationalists and Federalists alike cheered Mr. Nembhrad’s victory because he is a native of our county.

After the assembly, we practiced more drills and then ate a delicious lunch of broccoli, fries, and a juicy medium-rare hamburger. The excitement of the day left me tired and I took a nap in the afternoon.

In tomorrow’s entry, I will write about our parade, which is why we do all of this marching.