Triumvirate of the Mostly Harmless Alliance

Early Days
In the early days of the MHA, the Alliance government consisted of two bodies: the Executive Overseers and the Senate.

The Executive
The Executive of the MHA was comprised of the Internal, Operations, and External Overseers. The initial positions were held by to Vinny P, JimmyK, and Rich respectively, as the founders of the Alliance. When a Founding Overseer retired they were able to appoint a successor. After all original office holders retired, the Overseer positions were filled by election.

The Senate
The Senate consisted of 5 Senators elected monthly by the Alliance Membership and served as a legislature making Alliance laws.

The Harmless Revolution
The Harmless Revolution, the pet project of long time MHA government member WCR, took effect in the final weeks of 2007 radically altered the structure of the MHA Government, and the Senate and Overseers were replaced with an all-powerful Triumvirate.

The Triumvirate
The Triumvirate is a 3-member Executive Council, elected by the people of the alliance. As the alliance's Head of State, the Triumvirate are responsible for legislating alliance policy, the ratification of all treaties, overseeing all internal departments, deployment of the alliance military, and management of all alliance affairs. The Triumvirs are the decision-making body and leaders of the Mostly Harmless Alliance.

Election history
Below is the election history and other Nominees for the Triumvirate elections

The First Triumvirate
After the adoption of the Harmless Revolution, the search was on for the first MHA Triumvirate. Only eight people were eligible for the three places. Eligibility was restricted to such members who had served in the MHA for a period of six months, and held a leadership position for three months.

The Eight people who were Eligible for office were: Johnson, Denzin, WCR, Madoverseer, Genzod, Doc Taco, ArianGD, and Craftj2.

Of those individuals only Denzin, WCR and Madoverseer expressed their interest, and as a result the "First Triumvirate" were acclaimed to office without an Election in December 07

The Second Triumvirate
At the end of February, mominations were taken for the first MHA Triumviral election. As several individuals gained eligibility in the preceding three months, new potential candidates emerged. Seven people put their names forward: Denzin, Destroyer, WCR, Scrumptusbrisket, Anagent, Silok and Johnson. Madoverseer deciding not to seek a second term.

The polls opened on Febuary 28th. The Results were:
 * Working Class Ruler [68 Votes]
 * Denzin [65 Votes]
 * Johnson [55 Votes]
 * An Agent [29 votes]
 * Silok [21 Votes]
 * Scrumptusbrisket [15 Votes]
 * Destroyer [7 votes]

Both WCR and Denzin retained there seats as Triumvirs, while Johnson filled the seat vacated by Madoverseer.

The Third Triumvirate
At the end of May, nominations were taken for the Third Triumvirate. The Nominees where: WCR, Johnson, Denzin, Iron Will And Dpops

The Results were:
 * Working Class Ruler [77 votes]
 * Johnson [72 Votes]
 * Denzin [71 Votes]
 * IronWill [46 votes]
 * Dpops [39 votes]

All incumbents retained their seats.

The Fourth Triumvirate
Riding on the heels of the MHA's war with Genesis, the Alliance entered into its fourth triumviral election cycle with great anticipation and hype. The nominees were Rustynail, WCR, Denzin and Johnson. The campaign, which focused on activity and reform, was set off in style by a thread made by Raholia (now of Argent). The election was a charged event, with the supporters of Rustynail being particularly vocal, and saw the largest turnout for a triumviral election to date. The results were:


 * Working Class Ruler [138 Votes]
 * Johnson [122 Votes]
 * Denzin [118 Votes]
 * Rustynail [81 votes]

WCR, Johnson and Denzin retained their positions maintaining the unbroken MHA tradition of re-electing incumbents. Shorty after the election a number of MHA members, including the defeated Rustynail decided to leave the MHA and would go on to form their own alliance, Argent.

Johnson steps down; Count Rupert rises
Shorty after the election of the Fourth Triumvirate, Johnson, under pressure from outside cybernations, felt unable to maintain the workload and activity required by his office and consequently decided to step down pending his replacement as per the Harmless Revolution. As per the Harmless revolution a Replacement need to be brought in from the Ministry. Only three Ministers were eligible: Count Rupert, Shamshir and John Rocker. The Ministers and remaining Triumvirs elected Count Rupert as Johnson's replacement.

Changes to Triumvirate Voting
Following the Argent spit and the unique series of events which lead to the MHA having two unelected triumvirs, it was decided that changes were needed. Opting to start small, a plan for staggered elections were enacted in October 08. One Triumvir Seat would be opened for election each month.

The Third Seat Election November 08
The first election to be held was for the seat vacated by the long serving and popular Denzin, who was sadly forced to retire due to outside cybernation pressures on his time. The nominees for the Third Seat were Doc Taco and John Mathews. The results were


 * Doc Taco [90 Votes]
 * John Mathews [36 Votes]

The Second Seat Election December 08
Count Rupert's seat opened for election at the end of November. Three candidates contested a fiery and intense election: Count Rupert, Tristram and John Mathews. Count Rupert retained his seat by a very narrow margin over the up-and-coming Deputy Minister of Towels. Results:
 * Count Rupert [49 Votes]
 * Tristram [43 Votes]
 * John Mathews [13 Votes] (*)

(*) John Mathews pulled out of the race on the second day of polling.

The First Seat election January 09
The January elections saw the MHA membership taken by surprise when the perpetually serving WCR announced, only hours before nominations were to open, that he would not be seeking another term. Three nominees put their names forward: Floyd, Thunderstruck and DrakeZ07 The Results were:
 * Floyd [60 votes]
 * Thunderstruck [9 Votes]
 * DrakeZ07 [5 Votes]

The Third Seat Election Febuary 09
The Febuary elections began with three people on the fore front for the election. John Mathews, Working Class Ruler and Thunderstruck. Unfortunately John Mathews was Deemed ineligible to run by the MHA court. allowing it to be a two man race between Working Class Ruler and Thunderstruck. The results were
 * Working Class Ruler [103 Votes]
 * Thunderstruck [50 Votes]

The Second Seat Election March 09
The March election once again had only two candidates aiming for the spot as MHA Triumvirate, Count Rupert decided not to return to the Triumvirate leaving it open for the election of a brand new Triumvir. It was contested between John Mathews and Shamshir. The results were: a lower poll turn out of 85 from the 153 in the last month.
 * Shamshir [51 Votes]
 * John Mathews [31 votes]
 * Abstain [3 Votes]

Shamshir resigns, Crushtania ascends
Shamshir abdicated his position as Triumvir after he felt he had to focus on his personal studies. After a vote amongst the remaining Triumvirate and Ministry as stipulated in the Harmless Revolution, Crushtania, former Minister of Babel Fish, was selected.

The First Seat Election April 09
The April election originally started out with 4 candidates. But after a withdrawal due to personal reasons, and another candidate deemed ineligible by the MHA court. The election was held with two candidates. After 2 and a half days of voting, Sorum -whom being in Mostly harmless alliance for only two months- was named the new Triumvir after Myth conceded. IYIyth resigned from Mostly Harmless Alliance after this loss.
 * IYIyth [33 votes]
 * Sorum [65 Votes]
 * Abstain [17 votes]

Third Seat Election May 09
The May election saw Working Class Ruler's seat on the stand.
 * Working Class Ruler[58 Votes]
 * John Mathews[23 Votes]

John Mathews left MHA shortly after the Election due to Personal Reasons. Working Class Ruler continues his Winning streak.

Second Seat Election June 09
Coming in from left field saw CelenAzrael apply for an exemption to run for Triumvir which was granted. Myth also stepped up to run before Crushtania's announcement to defend his seat.


 * CelenAzrael [21 Votes]
 * Crushtania [48 Votes]
 * IYIyth [22 Votes]
 * Abstain [6 Votes]

Although campaigning was fierce, it was not without controversy. Sorum and WCR of the current Triumvirate openly endorsed Crushtania, drawing ire from his opponents, questioning the legitimacy of incumbents essentially endorsing themselves. Nevertheless, former Triumvir and current Government Advisor Doc Taco endorsed IYIyth.

First Seat Election July 09
Sorum chose not to seek re-election, throwing the field open to a number of candidates. Prospective candidate IYIyth had his account deleted on CN before the election could be held, and thus could not stand.


 * Celen Azrael [ 20 Votes ]
 * Kowalski [ 61 Votes ]
 * Shamshir [ 69 Votes ]

A total of 150 votes were cast in the close contest which saw Shamshir return to the Triumvirate. Kowalski left the alliance shortly after the election.

Shamshir steps down, Pourquoi steps up
Shamshir was replaced a month into his time in office after rl issues forced his abscence. In line with the MHA Charter an election was held amongst the Ministry and Triumvirate which saw Minister of Hitchhikers, Pourquoi, elected as Acting Triumvir to see out the rest of Shamshir's term in office.

Third Seat Election August 09
WCR chose to step down, and ScutterBug stepped up. No one else nominated against ScutterBug so he moved into office.

Second Seat Election September 09
Incumbent Crushtania sought re-election in September and soon competition emerged once again from Celen Azrael who was making his third bid for a Triumvir position. King CJC, Minister of Babel Fish, also put his hat into the ring for the first time.


 * Celen Azrael [ 25 Votes ]
 * Crushtania  [ 55 Votes ]
 * King CJC    [ 14 Votes ]

With a total of 94 votes the election proved to be a fairly comfortable second election victory for Crushtania who carried 59% of the vote.

First Seat Election October 09
Both Celen Arael and King CJC decided to run for election again, facing Pourquoi who'd held the post in an Acting capacity for two months. The election took place amongst nominations and campaigning for the Speaker and Legislator positions in the new MHA Assembly.


 * Celen Azrael [ 16 Votes ]
 * King CJC    [ 31 Votes ]
 * Pourquoi    [ 48 Votes ]

95 votes were cast in the election, which proved to be slightly closer than some had expected, with King CJC increasing his vote significantly from his previous attempt. Nonetheless Pourquoi maintained his Triumvir position with 51% of the vote in his first election.

Third Seat Election November 09
Scutterbug announced he would not be seeking re-election immediately due to real life commitments. Jadoo1989 announced his candidacy long before the nominations opened, hoping to run against Scutterbug. After Scutterbug announced he wasn't running it appeared to be a clear shot for Jadoo1989, then yankeefan2 nominated himself. The race for Triumvir was thus on and hot debate ensued. At the end, the elections ended as followed:


 * Jadoo1989  [ 68 Votes ]


 * yankeefan2 [ 18 Votes ]

101 votes were cast in the election, which proved to be a landslide for Jadoo1989, taking 67% of the votes. Jadoo1989 thus became the next Triumvir.
 * Abstain [ 15 Votes ]

Trivia

 * The largest margin of victory occurred in Nov 08 when Doc Taco won by 54 votes, though this was after the implementation of the 1 seat rotating elections.
 * The narrowest margin of victory was in Dec 08 election were Count Rupert edged out Tristram by only 6 votes.
 * WCR was the longest consecutively serving Triumvir, having held the office for a total of 13 months, and remains the longest ever serving Triumvir with 19 months total.
 * Count Rupert, Crushtania and Sorum have all served in similar Triumvir positions previous to their joining MHA, interestingly enough in the same alliance - The Aquatic Brotherhood.
 * WCR has competed in the most Elections, with Seven, he was never defeated in an Election.
 * No previous Triumvirate has ever been defeated when running a second time. including when there was a break between elected nominations (IE: Working Class ruler and Shamshir)