Captain

To be considered for the role of captain, a person must be a resident of Willowmoor (in later years as newcomers move to the growing town, they will clarify that the person must have been a resident for at least 10 years).

They must be at least 25 years of age by the time they are able to toss their name into the hat.

If they have committed an offense that makes them ineligible, it doesn't matter that they might meet the other requirements. There are few crimes a person can commit against the community that will allow them to still run for any public office, let alone the highest of them all.

To be appointed to the role of captain, a person who meets the requirements only has to apply with the village leadership within 5-6 weeks of Election Day. After that, they will have a month to campaign if they wish (most do), but it's not required for them to succeed at being appointed.

When the allotted month is up, the residents of Willowmoor go to the polls, listing the names of the candidates in their preferred order. If more votes are needed, they'll return the next day to complete the process again with the remaining names (anyone who averaged to more than 20% of the ranked share of votes). They continue to do this until one person wins the majority and becomes the next captain.

Notably, a person does not have to register their own name, but someone elected into the role also doesn't have to accept the position - whether they meant their name to be added or not. Similarly, a duly appointed captain may resign from the role at any time for any given reason. If this should happen, a special election will be announced for six weeks out to give applicants the necessary time to apply and campaign.

Something notable about the position: while term lengths may only last 2 years, there is no limit to how many terms a single person may serve as captain.

The captain is the most visible public servant, so their primary duties are to address the people and go among them.

As the most prominent of the public figures, the captain must always be ready for any possible event that could arise. They must be prepared to immediately issue a statement or answer the community's questions to the best of their abilities. They must be prepared to shoulder the blame of the village leadership, regardless of if the fault lies with them or not. They must always be available to comfort in times of distress, bless those who request it, and heap words of judgment on an offender of the community.

There are some benefits that any captain can enjoy, whether they end up being liked or not. The captain is often given deference in service situations; for example, if they sit down for a meal in the local diner, other tables will be put on hold so they can be served first. They also receive a month off during the summer where they may disappear for a time unless the village faces a crisis or other major emergency. When the common currency is eventually invented, they will originally receive a very modest salary for their work.

If the captain is popular while filling the role, they can expect even more benefits. People will offer things for free, they will be swamped with admirers when they go places, and they can expect to be the subject of many a public art project or creative endeavor. In fact, popular captains are not just treated with deference; they are treated as royalty.

In the earliest days of the title, the captain wore nothing to distinguish himself since he was already a notable figure in the community prior to his appointment. This first captain was eventually gifted a badge that will become associated with his role as captain.

Per clause nine of The Willowmoor Charter: Leaders can be removed by a motion of no confidence by any citizen, followed by democratic vote. This goes for everyone right up to and including the captain.

The process for this is simple in the early years. Much like registering to run for office, any citizen files their motion for removal with the current leadership. They must present the reason for their no confidence motion, and the leaders will then present the complaint to the offending member. This is done to give them the opportunity to resign if they would rather not face a vote.

Assuming the leader does not resign, the public is then gathered to hear the motion and accompanying offense. A vote is held the next day, and if the majority decide on dismissal, the leader is removed from their role. A special election is announced for six weeks out, giving candidates ample time to toss their name in the ring and campaign for the open position.

The group of survivors that went on to form Willowmoor saw various types of leadership along the way. First, two ex-military men put themselves in charge of the group of 4500 that showed up in The Arena seeking shelter and, to those two's benefit, military assistance. Shortly after it became clear there was no actual military coming to save everyone, a Leadership Council was formed around those two, other survivors feeling it would be better to include more diverse voices among the leaders. Eventually, an Advisory Council also developed and though they weren't official leaders, the community still saw them as such.

When the group of survivors was forced out of the arena, their number getting halved in the process, the former councils dissolved, mushing together to form a new one, and the Caravan Conclave was born. This group directed, organized, and tried desperately to protect the community during the nearly 9 months they spent crossing the continent in a northerly journey to find the future site of Willowmoor. Their number would be more than halved again by some of the dangers they faced, and some leaders would come under great scrutiny while others were propelled to positions of highest respect.

This proven group of early leaders became so trusted in the role that for a short time upon setting up the perimeter of the soon-to-be-built village, they continued to seamlessly lead, the community following without thought. The conscientious conclave were uncomfortable with this, though, because they wanted a secular, democratic society where people in their roles were elected into them. This way of thinking led to a meeting where they brainstormed the various elected positions they thought a proper government needed, the captain arising out of this by virtue of a single leader named Adam's extreme popularity.

By and large, the people of Willowmoor approved of the new government, electing trusted leaders and a few untested volunteers into the newly minted roles. Adam was not only popular with the conclave, so he easily won the appointment to the first role of captain.

There was a discussion among the leadership about how the Willowmoor government should look before they ever brought any ideas forth to the people. While plenty of those leaders gravitated more toward a continuation of the system they had been using - a council that represents a team of leaders instead of one distinguishable figure - it was one of them who brought up the idea of having a "President-like job" for one dedicated person. A minor and silent schism formed out of this temporarily, but the idea was popular, and the position of captain was born.

This occurs at a tipping point in Willowmoor's young history as a new settlement in a nation-less, apocalyptic world. They have an opportunity to move away from such "one true leader" societies that ruined swaths of lives in the Before Times, yet they make a different choice. The cultural implications will be felt in how the society shapes itself around the perceived superiority of their elected captain.