Ailani

Ailani was a mayor of Republic City during the presidency of Zhu Li Moon. She was well-known for her populist rhetoric and her desire to see real change in the city.

History

Ailani was the daughter of Foggy Swamp Tribe immigrants. She grew up adapting traditional waterbending to grow crops in urban environments. She saw firsthand how these community gardens sustained public health when rapid development and industrialization complicated access to fresh produce or medicinal herbs. Ailani quickly earned the fondness of her fellow citizens throughout the city, and they encouraged her to vote for public office.

Ailani chose to run for mayor of Republic City, although the position historically was little more than ceremonial, while the United Republic Council, and later the president, held the real power over the capital. Ailani was determined to change the state of affairs throughout her campaign. She was the clear victor in the mayoral election, having successfully garnered support across the city by establishing herself as just another citizen, without wealth or long-standing political connections. In particular, she represented real changes, which were in opposition to the interests that President Raiko represented. Despite extensive popular support, she came to office without allies in the political establishment. As a result, she knew she had to maintain her popular support to survive, and sometimes adjusted her beliefs to maintain that support.^[2]

Ailani was an outspoken critic of corporate influence in government. She had a political rivalry with President Raiko, but she continued to butt heads with President Zhu Li Moon, whom Ailani thought was a technocratic shill too close to corporate interest.^[2][3] Ailani and Zhu Li typically clashed wherever public support was at stake. Ailani was always in favor of moves to keep her in line with the popular option, even when the president believed the choices in question would end up doing more harm than good.^[2] As presidential aide, Bolin took it upon himself to mend some of the fences between Ailani and Zhu Li, as the earthbender liked and respected both leaders and their ideals, and thought Republic City would be better off if they worked together.^[3] The mayor continued to constantly seek allies who share an anti-establishment view in politics, and she was interested in people even if she was the target of their confrontational energy.^[2] In the long run, Ailani wanted to run for president herself, though it was not her main focus just after Zhu Li's inauguration, as the next election was still years away.^[1]

Ailani's work to grow crops in the city was also built upon by others, with the initiatives being featured in the Four Nations Fair downtown.^[4]

Community representatives, lobbyists, Triad representatives, and CEOs all sought audiences with the mayor.^[5] In particular, Jargala Omo had an interest in getting political connections to the mayor.^[6] Li Gong, an influential community figure in Old Cranefish Town, also looked to Ailani in the hopes of getting her to ratify the Old Cranefish Town Preservation Association, to protect the historic district from new developers.^[7]

Meanwhile, former president Raiko's new radio show, the Raiko Report, was particularly negative about the mayor, despite the program branding itself as "even-handed".^[2] Ailani was also interested in funneling more money to the Dragon Flats borough, but the amount of yuan required to make a change grew greater every year with all the compounding issues in the district.^[8]

Appearances

Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game

• Republic City

References