*A speech given by Genevis Ward in the Town Hall, carried out despite several rude interuptions*
Welcome everyone, and thank you for coming. It's truly an honor to be given the opportunity to speak, the freedom to do so.
But you know, that's the beautiful thing about our city- civility in the face of hostility, prosperity from integrity.
But I digress. Let me start with just a little introduction.
My name is Genevis Ward, though many of you already know that, as I am a natural citizen, one of the fortunate few to be born within the walls of our fair city. I am also a physician, my life's work is devoted to the reperation and renewal of life, the prevention and treatment of diseases and toxins.
As of late, my work has led me abroad. I live the life of a common man, yet I see the lives of adventuring men and women, and I've saved a great many lives in both camps.
But that's enough about me. Let's talk about the city and how I believe I can serve the city for the betterment of all.
As a public servant I would press onward with the council with proactive goals as we led the initiative for communal progress.
Sanctuary is strong. Let's make it stronger.
Sanctuary is noble, let's make it nobler.
Sanctuary is home, and lets make it the best we can until we breathe our last.
I mentioned proactive goal setting. Here are some of those issues.
I'll start off with everyone's favorite subject. Taxes.
They're high, there's no doubt about it.
It costs most citizens as much or more of their income paying taxes as for paying to feed their families.
But the solution lies not within the collections or percentages, or even the taxes themselves.
The solution lies within the expenditures.
As councilor, I would press the initiative for thriftiness to work out the reductions in the cost of governing, all without reducing the numbers of the Watch, Watch pay, or any other government institutons.
We -need- our good guardsmen, and the Watch and the Spellguard deserve nothing less than our fullest support. They give their lives and spill their blood for our safety.
Also as a councilman, I would promote our agricultural and herbalism studies to increase the food surplus and reduce medical expenses.
Another big concern is our increasing isolationism. Sanctuary has always had fair trade relations with the svirfneblin, and also with the duergars of the Gruhnstable clan.
My goals would be to lead the initiative to strengthen those ties and bolster our trade relationships.
Along with this initiative, I would press for some tax breaks for traders, investors and entrepreneurs to provoke a stronger economy.
But boosted diplomacy doesn't stop there, but first I must tell you a little story.
A number of weeks ago, you heard about the angry minotaur at our gates. I was among the souls that journeyed out to settle the tensions eventually aiding in the defeat of the great minotaur leader, a powerful shaman, averting war with the minotaurs, just like our beloved Charles Bresley.
My point is this- Sanctuary was put at a great risk, and would be under siege as we speak, if not for our informer... a tongueless, traitorous minotaur elder.
We need better security than that.
Diplomats and subterfuge could be our greatest allies in our survival.
On expansion, I pose a question.
Why should we delve deeper into the perilous ruins filled with automated horrors, to gain ground at the expense of the blood of the Watch?
We have space all around us, all we need is to carve and build, creating dozens of new jobs for masons and stonecutters!
Lust for battle is no reason for misguided expansion.
Sanctuary, bastion of freedom, haven of free men in a dark place.
Let us safeguard our freedoms and liberties with pride and honor, and respect for those that came before, and thoes that have yet to live or escape the tyrannical shadows abroad.
Thank you for coming, and thank you for your votes.