Theresa Newton

Theresa Newton is a politician serving as an assemblywoman from East Park, Novariso. She was elected in the special election to fill the seat vacated upon the death of Gary Hicks. At age 22, she is the youngest person ever elected to the National Assembly since its creation in 1848.

Early Life
Newton was born in Novariso on January 11, 2001. Nothing is known about her father who disappeared before her birth. Her mother, Amelia Newton, died in 2003 during the pandemic that hit at the time. With no related family, Newton was taken into Prospect Children's Home where she was raised. She attended Central Novariso Government Academy from 2004 to 2017.

Military Service
Newton ran away from school in 2017 when war with Spereria broke out. She went on the sneak into the military and served on the front in the Kine Mountain Range. three weeks before the end of the war, Newton and another soldier, Dalton Raye, managed to free Araikan soldiers taken prisoner during the war and succeeded in killing a major Spererian general. Raye did not survive but Theresa returned a hero and after the end of the war, was awarded the Purple Star of Bravery.

Later Activities
In August 2018, Newton enrolled in Novariso University and completed a program in Human Services and Social Justice in 2020. She has since resided in East Park, Novariso and has assisted the community in running numerous events.

Political Career
Newton was convinced to enter the East Park special election by her friend Lucas Snowe, a member and organizer of the Social Democratic Union. Despite reservations and being at a disadvantage in a seat that has been held by the ULA since its inception, Newton entered the race and was selected as the SDU candidate. Even though she was severely under staffed and her campaign essentially consisted of her, Snowe, and another friend, Margo Glass, she became extremely popular and when the results arrived, she bested her main opponent, Norman Hall, son of former president Grant Hall, by 11 votes.

Economy
Newton describes herself as a social democrat, and has criticized the capitalist system that has dominated Araikan economics for decades. She opposes attempts to achieve a balanced budget where necessary. She is in favour of nationalization of major utilities such as water, energy, and telecommunications.

Education
Newton believes that the government should increase the amount of public schools available whether through building more or nationalizing certain private schools. Newton is also in favour of curriculum reform that ensures that all those in society are fairly represented and treated equally.

Foreign Affairs
Breaking with many in her party who support strict neutrality, Newton believes that Araika should maintain alliances with its continental neighbours, Pasia and Rocrofa in order to push back against Spererian threats. She is highly sceptical of getting closer with Astellia as much as she is to getting close with Vesoralia. Newton has called for Araika to lead an initiative to re-create the Naturia Assembly as a means to foster peace on the continent.

Military
Having served for a short time in the military, Newton believes that the military "has its place in Araika, but needs to be critically reformed." She mentioned that in her experience, conflicting ideas on courses of action have led to massive infighting within the military leadership. As such she believes that the government should settle these differences before engaging in any talks of budgetary matters.

Social Affairs
Newton supports full equality for LGBTQ Araikans and has co-sponsored a law with ULA member for Kinewen Central, Aria Lowne, that would give them the same benefits as heterosexuals.

Personal Life
Newton has no close family members and is neither in a relationship with anyone at the moment. She has mentioned that the two people that helped her immensely in her campaign, Lucas Snowe and Margo Glass, are essentially the only family she has.

Newton is one of the poorest members of the Assembly. When staying in Alurod, she shares an apartment with Kinewen Central assemblywoman, Aria Lowne, who is also not as fortunate. Their plight has strengthened the call for higher salaries for assembly members, which currently sits at $50,000.

Newton has mentioned that her reason for joining the military during the Central Naturia War was due to "wanting to die." She revealed herself as severely depressed and thought that dying for the country would be the best way to end her life. She mentioned that Raye's intervention in her life saved her from nearly committing suicide a few days in.

Newton is an atheist, mentioning that she could never bring herself to believe in the concept of a god after everything she has been through. Her East Park opponent used this in attacks against her but were ineffective since 80% of the residents of East Park were also irreligious.