Gail Bridgeman

== Gail Bridgeman ==
Gail Bridgeman was an American politician and businessman who served as a county commissioner for Luzerne County, PA, and later was the sole commissioner following the Great Collapse.
== Life Before the Great Collapse ==
Bridgeman was born on 15 March, 1966, in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Being raised in a blue-collar family, he valued hard work, self-reliance and discipline from an early age. Hoping to be more than his parents were, he pushed to excel in his studies and was involved in various extra-curricular activities in grade school.
Bridgeman pursued a degree in business administration at a local college, paying for his tuition by working a part-time job. There, he became rather interested in politics and community affairs, growing involved in organizing local events and movements. He became known in his community for his volunteer work.
In the 1990s, Bridgeman began his professional political career by running for a seat on the Luzerne County Board of Commissioners. His relatable demeanor and self proclaimed "no-nonsense" approach resonated with local, particularly rural voters, securing him an easy victory. Over his years in office, he became well known and mostly well respected among the folk he represented. However, many criticized him for using his power for financial gain when it came to the inner workings of businesses and government projects in the county. Regardless, Bridgeman became favored by his more conservative followers, as he based his ideology around small government, economic excellence, and fiscal responsibility. However, he worked to be respected by those on both sides.
In the wake of the Great Collapse and the spread of the Jinanvirus, Bridgeman became increasingly challenged in leading the county through their hardships. As the remaining board of commissioners either died or disbanded, Bridgeman remained the sole member, taking control of the county courts. In 2019, Bridgeman was approached by members from Harrisburg who were recruiting counties into the Harrisburg Committee. Initially, Bridgeman was inclined to join as he feared the county's ability to continue without outside connections. After agreeing to sign on and travel to Harrisburg, Bridgeman made a last-second decision to cancel the plans, however, after he gained information on the Seaboard advance in New York, he believed it would be against their interest to commit to one side of the civil war. He withheld, much to the dismay of the Harrisburg Committee. Despite the initial drawbacks and lack of regional aid, Seaboard chose not to attack or invade Luzerne County because of their neutrality, given they did not supply or aid the Appalachian forces.
In the summer of 2021, Appalachian General Nathan Krauss sought out a meeting with Bridgeman after he was referred to him by Jayden Harris.