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Sonya Inyo Woodking, usually referred to simply as Sonya Inyo, (born April 19, 2964) is a Wiltshirian politician, academic and former civil servant who has served as Prime Minister of Wiltshire since 27 September 3020. As Leader of the Liberal Conservative Party, Inyo formed a government following Mark Edwin's dismissal following the WEA/EFR electoral scandal.
Prior to her appointment as Prime Minister, Inyo served as Chairwoman of the Conservative Party, and as a candidate for President of the Novanite Federation in March 3019. Her political career was closely linked to the allies of her father, Jaresh Inyo. Inyo is the first child of a former Prime Minister to become Prime Minister.
Shortly after taking office, Inyo called the October 3020 general election, in which her Liberal Conservative Party won a landslide majority government. In December 3020, she announced that she would step down as the Leader of the Liberal Conservative Party, eventually being succeeded by Glenn Callaghan in May 3021.
Early life
Inyo was born to political activist and Grizzelan politician Jaresh Inyo and to a human doctor, Marietta Inyo. At an early age, the family moved from Grizzella to Terra due to the reformation of the United Federation of Planets in 2985. Jaresh Inyo became a republican congressman from Grizzella and by 2990 became Speaker of the House of Representatives. In 2993, with the outbreak of the Federation/C.E. war and the assassination of President Grand Tarkin, Jaresh Inyo became President of the Federation and, due to the state of the war, Sonya Inyo returned to Grizzella for her own safety. She returned with her mother and stayed there for 4 years.
In 2997, Sonya Inyo returned to Earth for her 23rd birthday to visit her father. However, with the galactic cataclysm in the following year, Inyo became trapped on Earth with her father, and her mother being trapped on the other side of the quadrant. Inyo accompanied her father during the migration to the Doggerlands and settled in Wiltshire with her father, who would become Prime Minister.
Political career
Member of the National Assembly (3014 until 3019)
Inyo was first elected to the National Assembly to represent the West Arches in the October 3014 Wiltshire General Election as a Conservative, in support of Prime Minister Martin Banks. She remained a backbench AM for several years, serving on the Assembly Committee for Economy and Budget Responsibility (3015 until 3016) as well as the Assembly Committee for Defence Affairs (3016 until 3018). She became a loud advocate for slightly more liberal conservatism from the party and became a proponent of increased and better more universal education.
Chairwoman of the Conservative Party (3016 until 3017)
Following the landslide election of Frank Eddington, the Conservative Party decided to change direction and following the leadership election in 3016, Inyo was appointed Party Chairwoman. The position would affectively put Inyo in charge of the Conservative election campaigns. She was considered a relatively successful Chair, allowing the party to grow their number of seats. However, she wasn't have much success in going against the general trend of the Socialist landslides of 3016 and 3017.
In 3017, however, the Socialist Party increased their majority and won 45/53 seats in the Assembly. The largest landslide in any contested election ever. Inyo received a partial amount of the blame for this defeat for the Conservative Party and so resigned following the election, returning to the backbenches.
Shadow Cabinet (3018)
Under the leadership of Peter Hay, Inyo became Shadow Minister for Education and in the role completely reformed the Conservative position on education to be far more inclusive and progressive. The impact she had on the Conservative education plan is still felt today as when the Conservatives entered government, much of her plans were implemented in 3019. In addition, her proposals were adopted by the National Governments of Fillmore Grey and Jim Balfour.
However, despite her work having such a big impact, Inyo was removed from the Shadow Cabinet when Audrick Hill took over the leadership in 3018. To this day, Audrick Hill describes this as "one of my biggest mistakes".
Novanite Presidential run (3019)
In March 3019, Inyo announced her candidacy for President of the Novanite Federation. She received the backing of much of Wiltshire's political establishment and was considered Wiltshire's best path to gaining as much influence and control within the new Novanite Federation as possible. Inyo ran a campaign on improving education and corporate relations.
While she was unsuccessful in winning the presidency, she was successful in properly and fully establishing her name as a Wiltshirian public figure, as she won the popular vote in Wiltshire itself. Shortly following the election, Inyo was diagnosed with cancer and left public service.
Opposition leadership (3020)
Inyo was elected to the National Assembly following the June Election. As the daughter of the founding Prime Minister, and a famous political figure in her own right, she became an immediate candidate for the leadership of the Liberal Conservative Party following the resignation of leaving Prime Minister Audrick Hill.
She announced her candidacy almost immediately following the election, and soon after gained lots of support within the LibCon Assembly Caucus. By the end, she won over 70% of the support of the Assembly. She was elected Leader and became Leader of the Opposition following this.
Her tenure as Leader of the Opposition was spent criticizing the "weak" coalition of Mark Edwin and noticing the faults and failures of his policy platform. Her most notable scrutiny came in the form of education reform and the Refugee Act. Her affective use of public pressure and political opposition helped to defeat both actions of the Edwin Government, helping to weaken his position further.
Following the WEA/EFR electoral scandal, Mark Edwin was dismissed as Prime Minister and Inyo was appointed to replace him.
Prime Minister of Wiltshire (3020 until present)
Inyo's tenure as Prime Minister started out uncertain. She had been appointed in the aftermath of an international scandal and did not have a government majority (despite a coalition with the newly formed Stability Party). In her attempt to rebuild the nation's confidence in the electoral process and in government, Inyo submitted herself to an early general election.
Her victories in the October 3020 Wiltshire Local Elections had proven her ability to win campaigns up and down the country and her confidence was boosted when she won a landslide victory in the local elections. Her campaign was focused on rebuilding Wiltshire and continuing and securing the recovery.
Sonya Inyo won a landslide victory in the general election, forming a majority government. Her victory was the largest electoral victory in 10 years.