Owen Laccister
Term of Office February 12, 1979- February 12, 1985 Spouse Barbara Laccister Political Party Progressive Liberal President Xavier Desan

Owen Laccister (born December 9, 1931) was the Vice President of The Federal Republic of New Felix from 1979 to 1985 under President Xavier Desan. In 1985, he made a run for President, losing to Richard Buckerson. Before his Vice Presidency, Laccister had served as a Senator from Moorton.

Early Life and Political Career

Laccister was born in 1931 to poor immigrants from the continent of Stanley. After completing his schooling career in 1958, he joined the Progressive Liberal Party and volunteered for various Progressive Liberal Camapaings in the 1960s. In 1971, he was appointed Campaign Manager to re-elect President Ian Cavenaugh, and successfully guided his candidate to victory. Shortly afterwards, Laccister was offered the spot of Chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party, but he declined with goals to capture a senate seet in 1973.

Senate Career

In 1973, Laccister was elected to a senate seat in Moorton by a 59-41 margin. During his six year long senate career, he represented the "Law & Order" wing of the Progressive Liberal Party, proposing and approving for domestic security upgrades. In the senate, Laccister was most famous for asserting that a "bulldog" would be more effective in preventing urban crime and violence than then President Harry Reevers. Laccister was successfully re-elected to senate terms in 1975 and 1977.

Vice Presidency

In 1978, President Brett Carpenter had decided not to run for re-election in the wake of several scandals pointed at his administration. Governor Xavier Desan won the Progressive Liberal nomination for President and selected Senator Laccister as his Vice Presidential running mate. The two were successfully elected by a 53-46 margin. Laccister was inaugurated as Vice President on February 12, 1979.

As Vice President, Laccister was very effective for negotiating compromises in Parliament over key domestic issues, such as the Desan Adminstration's Budget and the confirmation of various federal judges. He also attended numerous Wysterian Conventions, setting a precedent for the Vice President of New Felix to head Felixan Foreign Delegations.

By 1985, The Desan/Laccister Administration was responsible for the largest surplus in history, less government spending at all levels, least amount of Felixans on the welfare rolls in history, and highest homeowner rate since 1967.

1985 Campaign

Main article(s): New Felix Election 1985

In 1983, President Desan announced that he would not seek a fourth term, presumably handing the torch over to Laccister. However, in July 1984, Nephite Militants seized a bank in Cameron. During a botched rescued attempt, 26 hostages were killed, causing widespread racial riots throughout New Felix. Initially, the Desan Administration ignored these protests and depended upon local police to contain them, but after dozens of deaths, federal troops moved into several cities to restore order. Accusations of government incompetence were thrown at the Desan Administration, ranging from failure to respond to the riots and failing to heal racial tensions throughout New Felix.

Consequently, Vice President Laccister's bid for the Presidency was challenged within his own party by Governor Robert Kingston. However, Kingston's candidacy was ended by the exposure of several extra-maritial affairs and Laccister won the nomination easily, selecting Governor Michael Lewis as his running mate.

In the general election, Laccister faced Senator Richard Buckerson. Initially trailing Buckerson by twenty points, the Laccister campaign recovered with a successful convention based upon a theme of continued economic prosperity and Law & Order. For the rest of the race, widely perceived as the most negative in Felixan history, Laccister and Buckerson remained neck and neck, but Buckerson won the Presidency by less than a million votes, despite a challenge of the results by Laccister. Laccister's Vice Presidential Term ended on February 12, 1985.

Post Vice Presidency

After his failed Presidential Bid, Laccister returned to a private life, working behind the scenes in the Progressive Liberal Party. He has also served as an advisor to Presidents Boris Smith and Ned Pistapoch.

See Also

• Vice Presidency of New Felix
• New Felix Election 1979
• New Felix Election 1981
• New Felix Election 1983
• New Felix Election 1985