Thomas Guthrie
| Thomas Guthrie | |
 | |
| Full name | Thomas Charles Guthrie |
|---|---|
| Physical information | |
| Species | Human |
| Gender | Male |
| Hair color and style | Blonde |
| Eye color | Brown |
| Biographical information | |
| Date of birth | 1711 AN (50 AN years old) |
| Place of birth |
 Andersonville, Aerla |
| Residence(s) | Noursala |
| Nationality | |
| Occupation | President of Aerla |
Thomas Charles Guthrie (b. 1711 AN) is an Aerlan politician who is currently serving as the fourth President of Aerla after his victory in the 1750 Presidential Election. The first President born after Aerlan independence,he served as an Assemblyman for Andersonville Parish after the assassination of Louis Bose by the People's Revolutionary Armed Forces in 1736 AN, being the youngest person elected to the National Assembly in the nation's history.
As President, Guthrie implemented several progressive reforms, such as abolishing the Penal Reserve Labor System, expanding social housing via the Housing and Urban Development Act, 1752, and abolishing the death penalty. His presidency also saw Aerla's entry into the Concord Alliance Treaty Organization and the integration of Transcaledonia.
He would be succeeded as President of Alexander Kim after the 1760 election.
Biography
Early Life
Thomas Guthrie was born in 1711 AN to Emanuel and Lisa (née Altmann) Guthrie in Andersonville, a working-class suburb of Noursala. His father worked as the town clerk for Andersonville, while his mother worked as a secretary for a local law firm.
After graduating high school and completing his mandatory year of service in the Grand Army of Aerla, Guthrie would go on to receive his M.S. in Political Science from the University of Noursala. During his time in university, he would begin to enter politics as the President of the Student Government in 1732 AN. After completing his degree, he would work in a clerical position for Andersonville's Representative, Louis Bose. Bose noted in Guthrie a hard working and dedicated mind, stating in conversations with his colleagues that he saw a bright political future for Guthrie.
National Assembly Career
Louis Bose would be tragically be assassinated a little over a year after Guthrie began working for him in late 1736 AN, when a PRAF gunman shot him and another one of his secretaries, Vivian Summers. Many of Bose's colleagues called for the now 25 year old Guthrie to succeed him in the National Assembly. Guthrie accepted, and was duly elected to fill Bose's seat in a tight victory. This made Guthrie the youngest person in Aerla's history to be elected to the National Assembly.
Guthrie would become a fierce opponent of Michel Sabbagh and his policies after the Conservative victory in the 1740 Election. He was an outspoken critic of the Energy Independence Act, 1744, citing at as "The worst legislation in Aerlan history."
1750 Election
The Reformist Bloc, coming off back-to-back electoral defeats, decided that a new course needed to be taken. Their previous two candidates, Anthony Solomon and Victor Mara, where elderly members of the Fitzroy cabinet, and therefore did not resonate well with the young liberal voter base of the party. The Reformist National Convention, noticing Guthrie's fast rise through the political hierarchy, endorsed him as candidate for the 1750 Presidential Election. He was noted by Conservative candidate Brandon Greiss, a seasoned cabinet minister in Sabbagh's government, to be an exceptionally fierce opponent in debates.
Guthrie and the Reformist Bloc would win a resounding victory in the 1750 Elections, receiving 72% of the popular vote in the Presidential Election.
Presidency
Guthrie's early presidency consisted of a mix of domestic and international reforms. One of his first acts was to repeal the Energy Independence Act and passing the Department of Church Affairs Abolition Act, 1752. He also created the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, making it a cabinet-level position. He also oversaw the repeal of the unpopular and restrictive Defense Against Seditious Activities Act with the signing of the Protecting and Respecting Free Speech Act, 1753. He also saw the creation of Refugee Assistance Program with the signing of the Refugee Assistance Program Act, 1757.
He also oversaw the Merger of the Reformist Bloc and the Agrarian Bloc into the Aerlan Democratic Party in 1752 AN.
In terms of International Diplomacy, he organized Aerla's entry into the Concord Alliance Treaty Organization in 1752 AN. He also attended the Quarter Millennium Gala in Hurmu and the Coronation of Empress Clara in Natopia. He also ratified a friendship treaty between Ioanna and Aerla on 15.VIII.1758 AN.
Post-Presidency Activities
Guthrie attended the inauguration of Alexander Kim after the latters election in 1760 AN. After the event concluded, Guthrie mused to the media that he was considering running for a seat in the 1765 election, but would not do so if it meant challenging a sitting ADP incumbent.
Honors & Awards
Hurmu: Inducted to the Order of Ash and Elm, with the rank of Knight Commander, during the Quarter Millennium Gala in Huyenkula in 1752.
East Zimia and the Wallis Islands: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Woven Crown (1753 AN)
