[GENERAL ELECTION, 1672] Parliamentary Elections Thread

[Alfonso Velez]

VELEZ FACTORY VISIT AND SPEECH

Seven months ago, Patrucio Viancolli had a vision: to provide his family's unique blend of olive oil to the tables of families throughout Alduria and beyond. He started with his family's investment of 25,000 ecus and turned that investment into a business on tack to make a projected of 500,000 ecus in revenue for his first year. Using that revenue, he's been able to open this lovely factory we're in today and now employs over 50 full time employees and 25 part-time and seasonal staff. Viancolli's story is one of countless success stories throughout Alduria that have resulted in economic stimulus for this great nation, their provinces, and their localities--and also employment and a reliable source of income for so many of their neighbors. 

As this country begins to develop in these challenging economic times, entrepreneurs like Viancolli ought to be supported and encouraged by our nation's government. Sadly, many small business owners and entrepreneurs quickly discover that Punta Santiago's bureaucrats are creating policies that hurt their businesses. Instead of finding encouragement and support, many business owners find curt notices of minor regulatory violations that they didn't even know existed. They find themselves hit by fines and penalties. They quickly discover that the cost of compliance with a draconian bureaucracy eats up a considerable percentage of their revenues at the very time when they need to re-invest those revenues into their businesses to promote growth and to allow for the opportunity to employ more workers.

The Liberty & Democracy party will fight hard for entrepreneurs like Viancolli. As an entrepreneur and business owner myself, I know all too well the challenges that we face. We must have a Government that recognizes that small business owners and entrepreneurs aren't the enemy--but rather that they are the ally of ensuring a robust economy that provides for the well being of all the citizens of our great nation. Government House needs a resident in it that will hold unelected bureaucrats to account and ensure that unnecessary regulations that hurt small businesses and their growth are done away with.

Viancolli recounted to me a frustrating exchange with the Department of Finance & Commerce where he was being forced to install a 10,000 ecu machine in his factory which served no purpose for manufacturing olive oil. Viancolli asked a simple question: "Why?" After being told that was the regulation and he must comply with it in order to have his license to manufacture foodstuffs for humans revoked Viancolli again repeated "Why?" Viancolli was understandably frustrated when he never got an answer to his question about why this machine was needed in his factory.

Reasonable regulations to protect the people of Alduria and our environment must of course be in place. However, we must create a culture within Government House where we ask "Why?" to every regulation. Many regulations make sense and are important. Many others are redundant or obsolete and serve no purpose but to stifle small businesses and take much needed revenues away from hard working entrepreneurs and business owners. The Liberty & Democracy party will do its part and ask "Why?" to the bureaucrats in Punta Santiago to ensure the right balance is struck between protecting consumers and protecting businesses. 

When it comes time to cast your vote at the polls, I hope you'll cast your vote for the Liberty & Democracy party candidate. No other party will fight as hard as us to press the "Why?" questions and provide tax relief and regulatory support to hard working businesses like yours to ensure that you all can continue to hire more Aludrians and create a vibrant economy for your future, your children's future, and your grandchildren's future. Thank you!


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National Campaign Strategy

Virtually all Liberty & Democracy candidates are making regular appearances throughout their home districts, except for those in exceptionally safe seats which are providing support in neighboring districts that are more marginal in polls. Velez has emphasized the importance of public speeches and rallies with the eye to attracting press attention (and free advertising!) Candidates in particularly marginal districts have also been encouraged to focus on door to door canvassing. Local party organizations have also worked hard to manage transportation options to help get potential voters to the polls on voting day and Velez has personally directed all ride sharing companies owned by Velez Investments to provide free rides to the polls on election day.

The L&D party has spent a considerable amount of its ad budget on online ads, particularly on social media. Velez feels that the party is particularly attractive to a young demographic and wants to mobilize these voters to the polls. Candidates who are in highly competitive districts have also been given money from the national party for more traditional advertising, primarily mailers, billboards, and radio ads at peak commuting hours. While the party has invested some in TV ads, the bulk of their ad budget has been spent into other areas. Considering the expense of TV ads, the national party has largely decided to hold a portion of ad funding "in reserve" and may buy TV ad time closer to the date of the election in very competitive districts.

At Velez's personal direction, candidates have been encouraged to tailor their messages in their districts to appeal to center-right and center-left voters who may be disillusioned with their current choices. Candidates in right leaning districts have tried to woo center-right voters talking about the party's commitment to fiscal responsibility, building up our naval forces, providing regulatory relief and tax breaks for small businesses and families, and an "Alduria First" approach to foreign policy. Candidates in left leaning districts have tried to woo center-left voters talking about the party's commitment to the separation of Church and State, building up Alduria's infrastructure, protection of privacy rights and civil liberties, LGBTQ+ rights, and its commitment to an open immigration policy. Candidates in competitive districts where the polling is close between the L&D candidate and the mainstream center left/right candidate have received greater ad money and have been encouraged to invest more heavily in mailers emphasizing their respective priorities and to focus on these issues in public appearances.

Nominally, the national campaign is run by the Party Chairman, however Velez has taken an extremely "hands on" approach to this campaign. This is in large part due to his personal popularity and personal investments in the L&D national party. Many will be watching the performance of the L&D on election day as an indication of how well Velez is likely to manage the party as Leader and will probably serve as a good indication on how loyal the party will be to him in the future.