Andrew Woodward
Andrew Woodward | |
|---|---|
 | |
| President of Colchester Landing | |
| Assumed office 2008 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Andrew Arthur Woodward 12 June 1955 |
Andrew Woodward is the President of Colchester Landing. Woodward is the second President since the independence of Colchester Landing, and has held the office since 2008.
Early life
Andrew Woodward was born in the seaside vacation district of Sunneyside, just 1 kilometre west of the city-centre of Colchester, to the semi-affluent Woodward family. His father, John Arthur Woodward, was the head of a well-known and highly lucrative chain of casinos. His mother, Anabelle Summerston Woodward, was the daughter of a local agricultural baron and overseas trader, Thomas Martin Summerston. As well as Andrew, the couple bore three more children, Cecilia in 1958, Octavia in 1962, and Joshua in 1963.
Woodward was born just before the onset of the thirty year long period of sporadic unrest which would grip most of Eastern Hesperidesia, known collectively as the Hesperidesian Revolutions. During this time, numerous native groups would form and struggle for independence. Of particular note in the present discussion is Jafala, which had already begun to chafe beneath the rule of the Empire of Exponent by the year 1958. It was just such unrest, mainly limited in these early times to riots and strikes, that brought the Woodward family to the capital, as Woodward Senior was now needed in order to maintain increased supervision of his numerous premises, large portions of the workforce thereof being of local Jafalan extraction. In the following years, things would grow increasingly uncertain, eventually leading to the strict immigration and pass laws of 1963, aimed at maintaining national security and limiting insurgence within the country following the first armed attacks by Jafalan rebels against Imperial positions.
After 1963, times became tougher, though Woodward senior was able to maintain a somewhat comfortable life for his family off the proceeds from prior years.
It was perhaps inevitable that the ongoing conflicts would have an effect on the younger Woodward, and an effect they had indeed. From an early age, Woodward took a keen interest in politics and the military, often listening to the radio and, later, sitting in front of the television “transfixed” by the discussions of troop movements and political discussions, as his mother, Anabelle, once stated in a letter to a friend.
At the age of 18, Woodward enrolled in Edward Harrington University in Colchester, and there maintained his interest by studying Political Science and Military Science. Upon graduating in 1982 with flying colors, Woodward immediately set out to make a name for himself in local politics, in particular he campaigned for the position of District Administrator. This goal he did eventually attain, after some 2 years of campaigning, in 1984 at the age of 29, when he became Administrator of East Colchester. During his time as a local administrator, he created a largely positive name for himself, even among the native populations, who had become somewhat dissatisfied with Colchester’s government following the 1963 Immigration and Pass laws. This he accomplished through his numerous drives to lessen the severity of the laws within his district to those who had proven themselves loyal citizens of the city.
Political career
Woodward would serve as a District Administrator for the next five years, until the governmental restructuring which accompanied the Praetonian-Exponential Treaty in 1988. With this treaty, governmental power was divided between a Praetonian and an Exponential governor, below which was instated a Senate.
While he had little hope of attaining the position of Governor, Woodward was swift to seize upon the newly created Senate in order to grow his political power and portfolio. After several more years of campaigning and drumming up support, he eventually was allowed the position of senator in 1991, and held the position until the dissolution of the senate and the Empire of Exponent in 1996.
Following the dissolution of the Empire of Exponent, and the subsequent vote for total independence from both Praetonia and Blackhelm, Woodward made a bid for the presidency, but was beaten by his opponent, one Jeffery Longchamp Henderson, who was thus named the First President of the Republic of Colchester. Following his failed attempt at the presidency, Woodward contented himself with a position in parliament, which he served dutifully for the next 4 years, afterwards taking a brief hiatus from public life in 2000.
Presidency
After President Henderson’s second term, Woodward came out of his semi-retirement and won a resounding victory in his campaign for the presidency, with a rate of 54/46 during the 2008 Presidential elections.
The Woodward administration has since reigned over a period of tremendous prosperity within Colchester Landing, although some political spectators have criticized the close relationship he has formed with the Blackhelm Confederacy, working to found the Hesperidesian Union with the Confederacy in 2008 and officially becoming a part of the East Astyrian Treaty Alliance in 2011.
Woodward has since served 4 terms, making him the longest serving president to date, and shows no signs of stepping down any time soon. His popularity has also all but solidified his place in power, with other presidential candidates usually making little, if any stir in the political scene.
Personal life
Woodward has been married to his wife, Loretta, since 1979. The couple have three children, Richard, Christopher, and Maria.