Gerry Neuman

Gerry Neuman, 3 AF

>
> > *"Somewhere inside all of us workers, there is a power to change the world for the better"*
> >
> >
>
>

## Summary

**Gerry Neuman** (August 8, 45 BF) is a Lakkosian statesman and political lobbyist who formerly served as the 5th Lakkos governor of Little Serenus, an Justice of the Little Serenus High Court, and the 6th Lakkos Ambassador to the Kingdom of Karkaros. He is also serving in Parliament in the Oldtown constituency. He is a long-time member of the United Worker's Assembly and its precursors.

Born in Little Serenus, Lakkos, Neuman graduated from the Leviathan University School of Law in 22 BF. He became a prominent labor attorney in Little Serenus and sought to serve as a public defendant for many Serenusi who could not afford the fees. During the Lakkosian Bush War, he served in the Office of Strategy (the precursor of the LIA).

In 15 BF, Gerry Neuman managed to ascend to the Little Serenus High Court due to a vacancy created by the retirement of Parili Rucciano. Neuman aligned with the liberal bloc of justices and wrote the majority opinion in *Antonio v. Lakkos*. In 10 BF, Neuman resigned from the bench to accept an elected position as governor of Little Serenus after a close campaign. Neuman would serve until 5 BF before resigning abruptly on Dougmas.

Neuman would return to politics after the democratization of the Consulate at the Federal level, being appointed Ambassador to the Kingdom of Karkaros.

## Early Life

Neuman was born and raised on Little Serenus, Lakkos, the youngest of eight children of Rebecca Ralwinn and Joseph Neuman, Orthodox Potatoist immigrants from Soumere-Serenus. His paternal line derived from a Yimmu clan called Shrudav, in the duchy of Urnu-Arrak. Neuman's father, an industrial labourer, died when Neuwman was only five, forcing Neuman's siblings to quit school and go to work to support the family.

As the youngest child, Neuman was allowed to continue school, but worked jobs on the side, including as a cashier at Ironsides' Pizzaria and as a library clerk, to help support his family. He was childhood friends with future politician Louis Goldwater, a bond lasting despite the difference in political values. Neuman attended classes and lectures at Leviathan University, which aimed to educate recent Lakkosian immigrants. He graduated from the university at the age of 23.

Neuman's interest in the law was sparked by the famous Mafia Commision trials against the DiFornaio crime family in Soumere-Serenus, a landmark blow against the criminal underworld. In 20 BF, Neuman married Dorothy Yazzia. They had one daughter, Barbara Neuman Stammer, and one son, Bill M. Neuman (an attorney in Leviathan, Karkaros).

## Military Service & Law Practice

During the Lakkosian Bush War, Neuman was a member of the Lakkosian Armed Forces, wherein he served as a private and later a colonel. Neuman served as well in an espionage group operated by the Office of Strategy, the precursor to the LIA, serving as chief of the Labour Desk, an autonomous division of the Lakkosian intelligence agency that was charged with the task of cultivating contacts and networks within the Lakkosian underground labor movement during the Bush War.

The War would pique his interest in labour movements as such movements swept across Lakkos in anti-war, anti-austerity protests. Following the end of the war in 9 BF, he would work as both a public and private attorney for many labour unions in Little Serenus, becoming a known name in the legal field.

## Political Career

### Court Justice

Neuman would serve as justice of the Little Serenus High Court following the vacancy left by previous justice Parili Rucciano. Neuman would align himself with the liberal bloc of justices, forming the majority opinion in the landmark *Antonio V. Lakkos* case, determining that Serenusi were just as eligible for citizenship as any other people according to the Magma Carta.

The victory would win Neuman popularity among the population of Little Serenus, resulting in an unprecedented victory in a general election for the position of governor. Neuman would be the first non-Serenusi governor of Little Serenus in over seventy years.

### Governor of Little Serenus

During his 10 BF gubernatorial campaign, Neuman pledged to raise corporate income taxes to 8 percent or higher. During his tenure, corporate income taxes in Little Serenus got as high as 7.4 percent in 7 BF, but by 5 BF they had decreased to 6.5 percent. Neuman has maintained Little Serenus' higher-tax status during his time as governor. In June 6 BF, Neuman signed a $91.1 thousand Zloty budget the legislature passed the previous month, which was the largest in district history at the time, though he cut $131 thousand Zloty in appropriations.

Under his tenure, local labour unions flourished as union-busting laws were repealed. Following a failed new budget proposal, Neuman would retire on Dougmas day.

## Parliament Tenure

Gerry Neuman would run for Parliament representing a constiuency in Oldtown, winning with a landslide election against LF candidate Joey Nelson.

## Personal Life

Neuman met his wife Dorothy Yazzia while studying in Leviathan. The couple lived in Puffin Point, near Coral City, until it was drawn into the very same neighbouring city. They then moved to Little Serenus, Lakkos, which would become the district he governed. They have three children.

Gerry Neuman would earn the "Service Medal" and the "Silver Star Medal" for his service in the Lakkosian Bush War.