Lois Daniels

Lois Maxine Daniels (b. May 16, 1954) is the Mayor of Santa Christina, a position she has held since July 2004. She was elected Mayor in 2004 defeating incumbent Jonathan Yates. She is a member of the Georgeland Alliance, and is the only Mayor in the country to come from a minor political party. Daniels is an alumni of Santa Christina University and has lived in Santa Christina since the age of 11, though she was born in Topstad. Her interest in politics began comparatively late, beginning her political career in 1999 at the age of 40. In 1994 she was elected to the Santa Christina City Council but left the council in 1997 when her husband, John, contracted prostate cancer. In 2001, with her husband recovering, she ran for re-election to the Council but was narrowly defeated. She spent most of her political career as an Independent. In 2003 she joined the new Georgeland Alliance as the party to best represent her views. In 2004 Daniels, who outside of politics ran a small business, was selected by the Alliance to be its mayoral candidate. Mayor Yates was unpopular and widely expected to lose the election, and the Tory mayoral candidate, Bob Burrows, led the polls. However, as the election day grew nearer, it became apparent that Daniels' position as a social and economic moderate, combined with her natural charisma (a quality Yates lacked) was attracting voters away from both Yates and Burrows. At the election held on June 1, Daniels won narrowly with 33% of the vote, compared to Burrows with 32% and Yates with 31%. Mayor Daniels immediately declared the major parties' grip on power at an end. Daniels has been a popular and visible mayor, and has the advantage of being able to work equally with both major parties on the city council. Mayor Daniels first eighteen months in office were scandal-free and saw an increase in tourism, an industry Mayor Daniels is keen to promote. As one of the most vocal and visible Alliance politicians, Daniels is the subject of much speculation regarding her career. Some have suggested she may attempt a run for the House of Commons or the Senate at the next election, though Daniels has denied any interest in leaving local politics. There is also speculation Daniels could be drafted to lead the Alliance in the West Mainland state legislature; again, Daniels has denied any interest. Daniels and her husband, John, have five children.