Claude Beaumont

Who's Who of Nouvelle Alexandrie
Claude Beaumont
Interim Leader, Federal Consensus Party (1750 AN–present) Deputy, Federal Assembly of Nouvelle Alexandrie for Alduria (1739 AN–present) Mayor of Punta Santiago (1729 AN–1739 AN) Councilmember, Punta Santiago City Council (1726 AN–1729 AN)
Titles and Offices Held
Full Name	Claude Henri Beaumont
Birth Date	8.VI.1686 AN
Birth Place	Punta Santiago, Alduria
Parents	Henri Beaumont (father, deceased) Amélie Beaumont (mother, deceased)
Spouse	Marie Beaumont (née Dubois) (m. 1711 AN)
Children	Two
Education	Technical Certificate in Electrical Engineering
Alma Mater	Punta Santiago Technical Institute
Occupation	Businessman (retired) Politician
Employer	Federal Assembly of Nouvelle Alexandrie
Political Affiliation	Federal Consensus Party
Languages	Alexandrian Martino Babkhi Common Tongue
Awards & Honors	Punta Santiago Citizen of the Year (1738 AN) Alduria Municipal Excellence Award (1739 AN) New Alexandrian Mayors Association Leadership Award (1738 AN)
City and Region of Residence
National Origin	Nouvelle Alexandrie
Citizenship(s)	Nouvelle Alexandrie
Known For	Two-term Mayor of Punta Santiago Founder of Beaumont Electrical Services Interim Leader of Federal Consensus Party during Pact of Shadows scandal recovery
Notable Works	Punta Santiago Affordable Housing Initiative Punta Santiago Public Transit Expansion Federal Infrastructure Investment Act of 1742 AN
Associated Organizations	Federal Consensus Party Punta Santiago Chamber of Commerce New Alexandrian Mayors Association

Claude Henri Beaumont (born 8.VI.1686 AN) is a New Alexandrian businessman and politician who has served as interim leader of the Federal Consensus Party since 2.II.1750 AN and as Deputy for Alduria in the Federal Assembly of Nouvelle Alexandrie since 1739 AN. He previously served as Mayor of Punta Santiago from 1729 AN to 1739 AN, where he implemented major public transit expansion, constructed 14,000 units of affordable housing, and reduced the city's poverty rate from 18.3% to 11.7%. His mayoralty was marked by cooperative relationships with labor unions, business associations, and neighborhood councils, delivering infrastructure improvements that came in under budget while maintaining city employee wage growth above inflation.

Born in the Riverside industrial district of Punta Santiago, Beaumont left school at 16 to work as an apprentice electrician following his father's workplace injury. He founded Beaumont Electrical Services at age 28, growing the company from a single van operation to a 120-employee firm specializing in municipal infrastructure projects. In 1721 AN, at age 35, Beaumont was diagnosed with stage III esophageal cancer. His recovery following surgery and treatment led him to sell majority ownership in his company to his employees through a worker cooperative structure, retaining 15% equity while transitioning to part-time advisory work.

Beaumont entered politics in 1726 AN when elected to the Punta Santiago City Council representing the Riverside district. His successful management of the city's Infrastructure Modernization Program led to his mayoral campaign in 1729 AN. Running on a platform emphasizing affordable housing, public transit expansion, and worker protections, he defeated three-term incumbent Jacques Montfort (FHP) with 52% of votes. His re-election campaign in 1734 AN won 67% support, carrying all twelve city districts including traditionally conservative neighborhoods in the hills overlooking the harbor.

Following his mayoralty, Beaumont was elected to the Federal Assembly in 1739 AN. During his eleven years as a federal deputy, he served on the Infrastructure Committee, Budget Committee, and Labor Affairs Committee, building a reputation as a pragmatic legislator focused on implementation details rather than ideological positioning.

Beaumont's appointment as Federal Consensus Party interim leader came as the party struggled to rebuild credibility following the Pact of Shadows scandal and Lockhart scandal. At 64 years old and with credentials spanning municipal governance, business management, and federal legislative experience, he represents the party's effort to emphasize competent governance and ethical leadership over ideological positioning. His first major challenge involves managing internal divisions between party loyalists who defend arrested leaders and reformists who view the scandals as requiring fundamental organizational change.

Early life and business career

Claude Henri Beaumont was born on 8.VI.1686 AN in the Riverside district of Punta Santiago, Alduria. His father Henri worked as a maintenance supervisor at the Riverside Metal Works. His mother Amélie cleaned offices in downtown Punta Santiago. The family lived in a three-room apartment on the fourth floor of a walk-up building at 247 Industrial Avenue.

Beaumont attended Riverside Technical School through age 16. In 1702 AN, his father suffered a back injury when a loading crane malfunctioned at the metal works. The injury ended Henri's career. Workers' compensation paid 60% of his previous wages. Claude left school to work as an apprentice electrician at Fontaine Electrical, earning NAX€3.20 per day. He completed his technical certification through night classes at Punta Santiago Technical Institute in 1705 AN.

He worked as a journeyman electrician for nine years. In 1714 AN, at age 28, Beaumont used NAX€2,400 in savings to purchase a used van and tools. He registered Beaumont Electrical Services and began taking residential repair jobs. The business grew steadily. By 1718 AN, he employed six electricians and secured his first municipal contract to rewire the Riverside Public Library.

The company specialized in municipal and commercial infrastructure work. Beaumont developed a reputation for finishing projects on schedule and within budget. By 1720 AN, Beaumont Electrical Services employed 78 workers and operated twelve service vehicles. Annual revenue reached NAX€3.4 million. The company handled electrical work for the Punta Santiago Harbor expansion project (1718 AN–1720 AN), the Central Hospital renovation (1719 AN), and electrical infrastructure for the new Punta Santiago Industrial Park (1720 AN–1721 AN).

In IX.1721 AN, Beaumont experienced persistent difficulty swallowing and unexplained weight loss. Medical examination revealed stage III esophageal cancer. He underwent surgery to remove the affected portion of his esophagus followed by six months of chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Treatment costs totaled NAX€147,000, of which his insurance covered NAX€89,000. He sold his personal investment portfolio and took a second mortgage on his home to cover remaining costs.

During recovery, confined to bed for three months following surgery, Beaumont reconsidered his priorities. In early 1722 AN, he proposed restructuring Beaumont Electrical Services as a worker cooperative. He sold 85% of company ownership to his employees through a structured buyout plan, retaining 15% equity. Workers purchased shares through payroll deductions over five years at subsidized rates. The transition completed in 1727 AN. Beaumont remained as part-time technical advisor but stepped back from daily management.

The cooperative structure proved successful. Employee retention increased from 68% to 91%. Workers voted to limit executive pay to no more than eight times the lowest-paid employee's salary. Profit-sharing distributed NAX€1.8 million to worker-owners in 1728 AN. The company continues to operate as Beaumont Electrical Cooperative, now employing 120 worker-owners with annual revenue of NAX€8.2 million.

Political career

City Council (1726–1729)

In 1726 AN, Punta Santiago's Riverside district faced infrastructure decay. Streets had not been resurfaced in twelve years. The neighborhood's three elementary schools operated at 147% capacity. Public transit service ended at 7 PM, forcing night-shift workers to walk or pay for private transport. The district's City Council representative Maurice Renard had served for 24 years and rarely attended council meetings.

Beaumont announced his candidacy for City Council in III.1726 AN. He funded his campaign with NAX€8,000 from personal savings and small donations averaging NAX€12. His platform identified seventeen specific infrastructure problems in Riverside with cost estimates and implementation timelines for each. He won the IX.1726 AN election with 64% of votes.

On the City Council, Beaumont chaired the Infrastructure Committee. He identified NAX€12 million in the city's capital budget allocated to projects that had been delayed or cancelled but never reallocated. He proposed the Infrastructure Modernization Program to redirect these funds to high-priority maintenance projects. The program resurfaced 47 kilometers of streets, replaced failing water mains in three neighborhoods, and renovated four aging elementary schools. All projects completed on budget. Three finished ahead of schedule.

Beaumont's committee work revealed Punta Santiago purchased road salt and construction materials through 34 separate contracts with different vendors. He consolidated purchasing through competitive bidding. The city's cost per ton of road salt dropped from NAX€84 to NAX€61. Construction materials costs fell 22%. These changes saved NAX€2.8 million annually.

In 1728 AN, Mayor Jacques Montfort proposed selling the city-owned electrical utility to Alduria Power Corporation for NAX€180 million. The sale would eliminate 340 city jobs. Beaumont analyzed the proposal and determined the utility generated NAX€14 million annually in net revenue. Selling would provide one-time funds but eliminate recurring revenue. He organized opposition that included the utility workers' union, neighborhood associations, and the Chamber of Commerce. The City Council rejected the sale 9-3.

His work on infrastructure and opposition to utility privatization built his reputation beyond Riverside. When Montfort announced retirement in 1729 AN, Beaumont entered the mayoral race.

Mayor of Punta Santiago

First term (1729–1734)

Beaumont's 1729 AN mayoral campaign emphasized three priorities: affordable housing, public transit expansion, and infrastructure maintenance. His detailed policy proposals specified costs, timelines, and funding sources. He published his personal tax returns and financial disclosures voluntarily, unusual for municipal candidates. He pledged to continue living in his Riverside home rather than move to the mayoral residence. The campaign attracted support from labor unions, tenant organizations, and neighborhood councils. Business groups remained cautious. The Punta Santiago Chamber of Commerce declined to endorse either candidate. Beaumont defeated Deputy Mayor Philippe Marchand with 52% of votes on 15.IX.1729 AN.

Beaumont took office facing immediate challenges. Punta Santiago's housing vacancy rate was 1.3%, driving rent increases of 8% annually. Public transit ridership had declined 15% in five years as service quality deteriorated. The city's infrastructure maintenance backlog totaled NAX€340 million. The operating budget faced a NAX€47 million shortfall. His first budget (1730 AN) addressed the deficit through targeted efficiency measures rather than service cuts. He eliminated 23 vacant administrative positions that had remained unfilled for over two years. He renegotiated the city's waste collection contract, reducing costs by 18%. He implemented competitive bidding for professional services contracts, saving NAX€8.4 million annually. These measures closed the budget gap without reducing services or laying off employees.

The Affordable Housing Initiative launched in 1730 AN. Beaumont identified seventeen city-owned parcels in industrial areas with declining manufacturing employment. The city rezoned these properties for mixed residential and commercial use. It offered the land to developers at reduced prices in exchange for commitments that 40% of units would rent at rates affordable to households earning 80% of median income or less. The city provided infrastructure improvements (streets, sewers, water lines) as its contribution.

The first projects broke ground in 1731 AN. By 1734 AN, developers had constructed 6,200 housing units under the program. Of these, 2,480 units met affordable housing requirements. Average rents in these units were NAX€740 per month compared to market-rate average of NAX€1,340. The program also generated 2,100 construction jobs and added NAX€18 million annually to the city's property tax base.

Public transit expansion began in 1731 AN. Punta Santiago's bus system operated 47 routes with a fleet averaging 18 years old. Service frequency had declined to preserve aging buses. Beaumont proposed a NAX€280 million program to purchase 150 new buses and expand service hours. He structured financing through municipal bonds backed by a NAX€0.15 per NAX€100 increase in property tax rates.

The tax increase faced opposition. Homeowners in hillside neighborhoods organized against it. Beaumont held 23 town hall meetings across the city explaining the proposal. He emphasized that improved transit would reduce traffic congestion affecting all neighborhoods. He noted that 67% of city residents used public transit at least weekly. The City Council approved the measure 8-4 in VI.1731 AN.

The transit expansion delivered results. By 1733 AN, new buses operated on all routes. Service frequency increased by 35%. Evening service extended until 11 PM on major routes. Ridership increased from 180,000 daily trips to 247,000. Customer satisfaction ratings improved from 43% to 71%.

Beaumont's working relationship with city employee unions balanced fiscal responsibility with fair compensation. In 1732 AN, the municipal workers union negotiated a contract calling for 6% annual wage increases. The city offered 3.8%, matching projected inflation. Negotiations stalled. Rather than imposing terms, Beaumont proposed binding arbitration with an agreed framework: wages would track inflation, but the union would accept modified pension terms that reduced long-term liabilities. Both parties accepted. The resulting contract provided 4.1% raises while restructuring pension contributions to save NAX€12 million over ten years.

His re-election campaign in 1734 AN ran on his record. Housing construction had begun. Transit improvements were visible. Infrastructure projects had delivered results. He won 67% of votes, carrying all twelve city districts including conservative neighborhoods that had opposed him in 1729 AN.

Second term (1734–1739)

Beaumont's second term expanded on his first term achievements. The Affordable Housing Initiative accelerated. Between 1734 AN and 1739 AN, the program facilitated construction of 7,800 additional units, bringing the total to 14,000. The city's housing vacancy rate increased to 4.2%, slowing rent growth to 2.1% annually, below the inflation rate.

In 1736 AN, Punta Santiago faced severe flooding after three days of heavy rainfall overwhelmed the city's storm drainage system. Flood damage totaled NAX€67 million. Forty-three businesses closed permanently. Beaumont created the Storm Resilience Task Force combining city engineers, university researchers, neighborhood representatives, and business owners. The task force identified 34 critical drainage improvement projects and recommended updated building codes for flood-prone areas.

Implementation required NAX€145 million. Beaumont proposed a ten-year capital program funded through increased water and sewer fees structured progressively: residential users paid increases of NAX€4–8 monthly depending on usage, while commercial users paid based on impermeable surface area on their properties. The City Council approved the program unanimously. By 1739 AN, 18 of 34 projects had been completed. When similar rainfall occurred in 1744 AN, flood damage in completed areas totaled NAX€4 million, a 94% reduction compared to 1736 AN.

His relationship with the business community evolved during his second term. In 1738 AN, one of Punta Santiago's largest employers, Royal Maritime Manufacturing, announced plans to close its largest factory in the city and relocate to Santander where operating costs were lower. The closure would eliminate 2,200 jobs. Beaumont negotiated directly with company executives. The city offered a ten-year property tax abatement worth NAX€14 million if the company remained and maintained employment levels. Royal Maritime Manufacturing accepted. The company upgraded its facility and remained in Punta Santiago. It currently employs over 3,100 workers.

Critics noted Beaumont granted tax breaks to a profitable corporation while maintaining property taxes on homeowners. He responded that preserving 1,800 jobs and the economic activity they generated justified the abatement. Tax revenue from 1,800 employed workers exceeded revenue from taxing one factory. The City Council approved the agreement 7-5.

Beaumont's final major initiative as mayor addressed childhood poverty. In 1737 AN, 23% of Punta Santiago's children lived below the poverty line. He launched the Universal School Meals Program, providing breakfast and lunch at no cost to all public school students regardless of family income. The program cost NAX€28 million annually, funded by redirecting NAX€18 million from other education budget lines and raising NAX€10 million through a NAX€0.08 per NAX€100 property tax increase.

The universal approach avoided stigma associated with means-tested programs. Participation rates reached 89% for lunch and 76% for breakfast. Teachers reported improved classroom focus and attendance. By 1739 AN, the childhood poverty rate had declined to 18.7%. Multiple factors contributed to this decline, but improved nutrition played a role.

When his second term ended in 1739 AN, Punta Santiago's poverty rate had fallen from 18.3% to 11.7%. Housing construction had added 14,000 units. Public transit ridership had increased 37%. Infrastructure projects worth NAX€467 million had been completed, 89% on budget and 31% ahead of schedule. City employment had increased by 4%, while the operating budget as a percentage of city GDP had declined from 3.8% to 3.6% through efficiency improvements.

Beaumont's deputy mayor Claire Dubois won the extremely close election with 50.2% to succeed him in 1739 AN. She continued his major policy initiatives, completing the remaining storm drainage projects by 1744 AN.

Federal Assembly (1739–1750)

Beaumont was elected to the Federal Assembly of Nouvelle Alexandrie representing Alduria in the 1739 general election, running on the Federal Consensus Party ticket. At 53 years old, he brought extensive municipal governance experience to federal legislative work. His campaign emphasized infrastructure investment, affordable housing policy, and worker protections, winning 58% of votes in his district.

As a federal deputy, Beaumont avoided the spotlight preferred by many legislators. He rarely spoke on the Assembly floor except on matters directly related to his committee work. He focused instead on detailed legislative craftsmanship, building bipartisan coalitions around practical policy solutions. This approach made him popular among colleagues but relatively unknown to the broader public.

He was appointed to three committees: Infrastructure Committee, Budget Committee, and Labor Affairs Committee. His municipal experience made him particularly effective on infrastructure policy, where he understood implementation challenges that purely theoretical legislators often missed.

Legislative style and influence

Beaumont's eleven years in the Federal Assembly established him as a pragmatic, detail-oriented legislator more interested in crafting effective policy than advancing ideological agendas. He co-sponsored 47 bills during his tenure, of which 19 became law. This 40% success rate significantly exceeded the Assembly average of 23%.

He avoided partisan rhetoric and rarely appeared on political talk shows. When he did give interviews, he focused on policy details rather than political strategy. This approach limited his public profile but increased his effectiveness within the Assembly, where colleagues from multiple parties sought his involvement in their legislative projects.

His voting record defied simple ideological classification. He voted with the Federal Consensus Party leadership 68% of the time, significantly lower than the party average of 84%. He voted with Federal Humanist Party positions 31% of the time, higher than most opposition deputies. This independence reflected his focus on policy outcomes rather than partisan loyalty.

By 1749 AN, Beaumont had developed relationships across party lines built on mutual respect for his expertise and reliability. When the Pact of Shadows scandal devastated Federal Consensus Party leadership, multiple deputies from different parties privately suggested Beaumont as a potential stabilizing figure.

Interim FCP leadership

The Pact of Shadows scandal erupted in late 1749 AN when NBC Newsfeed published leaked documents revealing Federal Consensus Party leader Ignacio Quispe and Alliance for a Just Nouvelle Alexandrie leader Martina Vásquez had planned to use government positions for personal enrichment. The scandal led to mass defections from the opposition coalition, Quispe's arrest following a televised car chase, and Vásquez's flight to Aerla.

In early 1750 AN, additional arrests of opposition figures including DSP Deputy Leader Carlos Mendoza and former FCP Deputy Leader Marcus Delgado further destabilized opposition parties. The Federal Consensus Party faced organizational crisis. Two consecutive leaders had been disgraced. Electoral support had collapsed. Internal divisions separated loyalists defending arrested leaders from reformists viewing the scandals as proof of systemic corruption.

On 28.I.1750 AN, the Alliance for a Just Nouvelle Alexandrie selected Mayani Guacanagari as interim coalition leader. On 2.II.1750 AN, the Federal Consensus Party national committee met to select new leadership. Several names were discussed. Some deputies proposed Thomas Laurent of New Luthoria, a party traditionalist who advocated standing firmly against what he characterized as the Montero government's political persecution. The vote proceeded. Beaumont won 89-47 over Laurent.

In his acceptance speech, Beaumont acknowledged the scale of the challenge. "Two of our recent leaders have been arrested for corruption. Our electoral support has collapsed. Many question whether this party has any reason to exist," he said. "I cannot promise quick recovery. I can promise honest leadership, transparent governance, and policies that serve working families rather than political ambitions. If that is not enough to rebuild this party, then perhaps this party does not deserve to be rebuilt."

His first action as interim leader was establishing an Ethics Review Committee composed of three deputies, two outside ethics experts, and one representative from Transparency Nouvelle Alexandrie. The committee would review all party officials' financial disclosures, outside income sources, and potential conflicts of interest. Several party traditionalists objected that this conceded legitimacy to accusations of corruption. Beaumont responded: "If we have nothing to hide, we have nothing to fear from transparency."

His first major crisis came just 46 days into his leadership. On 22.III.1750 AN, ACA agents arrested former party leader Diane Lockhart and her husband Daniel Rivera on charges of tax fraud, document falsification, and criminal conspiracy. The revelation that Lockhart's corruption extended beyond the NAX€180,000 foundation misuse that had forced her resignation dealt another blow to party credibility.

Beaumont issued a statement within two hours. "We thought the Lockhart matter was resolved when she repaid the funds and resigned," he said. "The revelation that criminal conduct was far more extensive than initially known is shocking and deeply troubling. The Federal Consensus Party condemns all forms of corruption, and we will cooperate fully with authorities. Our party will not defend the indefensible."

The statement drew immediate criticism from party loyalists. Deputy Fernando Ruiz of Alduria accused Beaumont of abandoning former leaders and capitulating to the Montero government's political persecution campaign. "Where is the loyalty? Where is the principle of innocent until proven guilty?" Ruiz demanded. "Beaumont throws our people overboard at the first sign of trouble."

Beaumont responded at the next day's party caucus meeting. "Loyalty to individuals who betray public trust is not a virtue. It is complicity," he said. "The evidence against Diane Lockhart includes her own emails discussing how to falsify documents and evade taxes. If defending that is what this party stands for, then I am in the wrong party. If we stand for honest governance and ethical leadership, then we must acknowledge wrongdoing when the evidence is overwhelming."

The exchange highlighted the fundamental divide within the Federal Consensus Party. Approximately 40% of deputies remained sympathetic to claims that the arrests represented political persecution rather than legitimate prosecution. They viewed Beaumont's refusal to defend arrested leaders as betrayal. The remaining 60% supported Beaumont's approach, arguing that defending corruption would permanently destroy the party's credibility.

Personal life

Beaumont married Marie Dubois, a public school teacher, in 1711 AN. The couple has two adult children: Catherine (born 1713 AN), who works as a civil engineer, and Jean (born 1716 AN), who teaches mathematics at Punta Santiago Secondary School. The family continues to reside in their original home in the Riverside district of Punta Santiago, the same four-room house they purchased in 1713 AN.

He maintains minimal public presence outside official duties. He does not use social media. He rarely grants interviews outside those related to specific legislation or party business. He prefers written policy statements over televised appearances. This low-profile approach reflects both personal preference and calculated political positioning as an alternative to the personality-driven politics he views as contributing to the corruption scandals.

Beaumont's daily routine has changed little since becoming interim Federal Consensus Party leader. He continues living in Punta Santiago and commuting to Cárdenas when the Federal Assembly is in session. He walks to his district office in Punta Santiago three days per week when not in Cárdenas. He holds open office hours every Friday morning for constituents, a practice he has maintained since first elected to the City Council in 1726 AN.

His hobbies include woodworking and reading history. He built most of the furniture in his home. He maintains a workshop in his garage where he continues occasional projects. Friends describe him as private but not reclusive, practical but not humorless, principled but not rigid.

Electoral history

Year	Office	Election	Result	Vote share
1726 AN	Punta Santiago City Council, Riverside District	General	Won	64%
1729 AN	Mayor of Punta Santiago	General	Won	52%
1734 AN	Mayor of Punta Santiago	General	Won	67%

See also

• Federal Consensus Party
• Pact of Shadows scandal
• Lockhart scandal
• Punta Santiago
• Ignacio Quispe
• Diane Lockhart
• José Manuel Montero
• Federal Assembly of Nouvelle Alexandrie