Stephen Hayes

The Right Honorable Stephen Hayes
File:Stephen Hayes.jpg
23rd President of West Aurelia
In office June 1, 2012 – June 1, 2020
Vice President	John Harper
Preceded by	Richard Alonso
Succeeded by	Alexander Lee
29th Secretary of the Treasury of West Aurelia
In office June 1, 2008 – June 1, 2012
President	Richard Alonso
Preceded by	Esteban Rodríguez
Succeeded by	Michael Valls
Senator for Riverside's 2nd district
In office June 1, 1996 – June 1, 2008
Preceded by	Ludwig von Hoffman
Succeeded by	Annabelle Horowitz
Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance
In office June 1, 2000 – June 1, 2004
Preceded by	Joseph Wong
Succeeded by	Joseph Wong
Personal details
Born	Stephen Hayes (1953-12-28) 28 December 1953 Riverside, West Aurelia
Citizenship	West Aurelian
Political party	Freedom Party
Spouse	Catherine Nicholson (m. 1981)
Children	Jessica (b. 1983)
Residence(s)	Stamford House, Riverside
Alma mater	University of Riverside (B.A., M.B.A.)
Website	stephenhayes.com.wa

Stephen Hayes (born December 28, 1953) is a West Aurelian politician who served as the 23rd president of West Aurelia from June 1, 2012 to June 1, 2020. He is a member of the Freedom Party. He previously served as a senator from Riverside's 2nd district from 1996 to 2008 and as the 29th secretary of the treasury from 2008 to 2012 under the administration of President Richard Alonso. Born and raised in the capital city of Riverside, he is a graduate of the University of Riverside.

Hayes launched his first campaign for the Senate in 1996 as a member of the Freedom Party. Hayes went on to defeat incumbent Conservative Senator Henry Adler in Riverside's 2nd Senate district. He served as chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance from 2004 to 2008. In 2008, he was appointed treasury secretary by the newly-elected Alonso.

In 2012, Hayes launched a bid to be the Freedom Party's presidential nominee, as Alonso was inelegible for reelection. He faced strong primary challenges from former Senate Majority Leader Allison Green and Chadstone Governor Francis Ellison, but ultimately won the Freedom Party nomination. He then defeated the Conservative Will Ockburn and Social Democrat Jasmine Lew in the 2012 presidential election.

In 2016, Hayes launched his reelection campaign, easily securing the Freedom Party nomination with the lack of any prominent challengers. He then defeated the Conservative Suzanne Stein and Social Democrat Jacob Furmedge in the general election, securing his second term in office.

Early life and education

Stephen Hayes was born to an upper-class family on December 28, 1953 at the Riverside General Hospital in Riverside, West Aurelia. His father, Arthur Hayes, was an audit partner at Rutherford Moss, a professional services firm which the younger Hayes would go on to work for. His mother, Sara Calvert, was a dentist. Hayes was the eldest of five children - three brothers (John, David, and Malcolm) and a sister (Elizabeth). He attended Westfield College until the age of 14, when he passed the entrance exam for the prestigious Riverside Academy, a highly selective college-preparatory school regarded as one of the best in the country. He graduated from the Academy in 1972 ranked third of that year's cohort.

Hayes attended the University of Riverside from 1972 to 1975, earning a Bachelor of Arts in economics and international relations. At Riverside he served as the editor of The Riverside Banner student newspaper. Hayes was employed by Rutherford Moss as a management consultant, and he would remain at the firm for the next 20 years. In 1981, he returned to Riverside to earn an M.B.A.

Personal life

Whilst studying for his M.B.A., Hayes met Catherine Nicholson, an astrophysics Ph.D. candidate. They married in 1985. In 1987, Nicholson gave birth to their daughter Jessica, who is their only child. Jessica graduated from Rockwell College in 2008 and currently works as an actuary.

Hayes is an atheist.