User:LizArchive/Isabella Roberts

Isabella Roberts (born April 12th, 1950) is an American politician and activist currently serving as the 1st Governor of the Oceanic Commonwealth of States since 1985. Roberts is not a member of any political party recognized by the FEC, but is the Chairwoman of the unincorporated Oceanic Independence Party, since 1984.

In 1988, Roberts was awarded and accepted the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Timothy Andrews, and subsequently was awarded the Pacific Medal of National Service by Pacifica Governor Robert F. Kennedy.

Personal Life
Isabella Roberts was born by surrogacy in Pago Pago, Territory of American Samoa on April 12th, 1950 to Ella Perefoti and Emma Roberts. Roberts grew up in Pago Pago and in 1968 began her 4 year studies at the University of Hawai'i at Honolulu, obtaining an undergraduate degree in disaster management and energy studies. While in university, Roberts became known for her vocal opposition to the war in Vietnam; Roberts joined the American Samoa National Guard in 1973 following the withdrawal of United States forces from Vietnam. Following 4 years of service, in 1977 Isabella Roberts became employed in the designing and construction of dams and spillways amid increasing occurrences of flash flooding in American Samoa.

In 1978 Roberts started her involvement in politics, campaigning for Jimmy Carter in the election of 1980. In 1984 following the resignation of President Ronald Reagan and the establishment of Oceanic as a state, Roberts formed the Oceanic Independence Party to advocate for the rights of Oceanic citizens.

LGBTQ+ Rights
Isabella Roberts has been openly lesbian since 1967, and supports LGBTQ+ rights for all Americans. The Oceanic Constitution, co-drafted by Roberts, forbids the commonwealth government from precluding LGBTQ+ people from equal rights, including marital rights. As Governor, Roberts has enacted various law considered LGBTQ+ friendly, including establishing inclusive marital law, forbidding discrimination in adoptions, and mandating the coverage of LGBTQ+ care by private health insurance.

Native Rights
Since becoming Governor, Roberts has signed several laws aimed at reducing inequalities for indigenous people in Oceanic, including a law initially excluding non-indigenous people from being employed by the OACA, a governmental program. The OACA was amended to prioritize indigenous employment following the filing of a lawsuit by the U.S. Attorney General's office seeking to overturn the program.

Roberts has also signed laws aimed at increasing indigenous participation in elections and increasing electricity access for remote native communities.

Economy
Upon her election as Governor, Roberts privately petitioned President Grenwich to grant Oceanic a waiver to the Jones Act, which she referred to as an "oppressive law". The Jones Act requires companies shipping between U.S. ports to possess and American crew and ships.

In her 1984 campaign for Governor, one of Roberts' key promises was to subsidize tourism and Oceanic exports. As of 1987, neither of these policies have been enacted. Roberts has moved to increase the diversification of the Oceanic economy, in particular moving Alaska to be less reliant on oil usage, demonstrated by funding to non-fossil fuel micro-grids.