The county of Montserrado, and perhaps the entire country, stood still in the last twenty-four hours awaiting results from a marathon senatorial by-election. Political activities in the last three months had been nerve-racking as various political interests intensify efforts to grab the senatorial seat rendered vacant by the death of Hannah Brent who won the seat in 2005 on the ticket of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC).

The battleground was the nation's premium province--Montserrado County. It shook terribly and both the antagonists and the electorates felt the internecine impact. The D-Day was Tuesday, November 24. Hearts palpitated, as the titans clashed fiercely, one political bloc flexing its muscles nearly to elastic limit.

The ruling Unity Party, reinforced by desperate attempt to clinch victory so as to prove a political point and firmly underpinned by incumbency advantage, brought to bear its full weight upon the CDC's candidate.

But after a period of tumultuous electoral aggression, CDC's Geraldine Doe-Sheriff, only a middle-level staff at the LPRC emerged victorious. On the portals of legislative politics, what does she bring both as burdens (in terms of electoral promises and allegiances) and hope (in terms of capacity and experiences) to the herculean new job?

The Analyst reports.

The Victory

CDC's "Iron Lady" Geraldine Doe-Sheriff has emerged victorious in the Montserrado by-election. Declaring the CDC victory yesterday, following the counting of the last ballot of the election, the National Elections Commission Chairman James Flomoyan said Madam Doe-Sheriff captured the total of 58,248 representing 56.0% of 104,248 valid votes counted.

According to the Elections Commission, second runner-up Clemenceau Blayon Urey of the ruling Unity Party slashed out 45,864 votes or 44.0%. The final scores now settle the dust of electoral hostilities which has engulfed what political commentators call the biggest by-election since the advent of the Sirleaf-led post-conflict government.

The Iron Lady and her populous CDC triumphed in the first round of the by-election in which nine other political parties and independent candidates contested the post, which a 2005 victor on the CDC ticket, Hannah Brent, left vacant due to death. The contest was unusually fierce, as many political pundits and the contesting interests themselves considered a prologue to 2011 presidential and general elections also regarded a watershed in the post-war country's democratic consolidation efforts.

The crèmes of Liberia's opposition, who badly needed a CDC victory to justify their criticism that, amongst other things, the ruling Party faces political legitimacy crisis for failure to deliver on its promises, arrayed their moral and technical supports behind Madam Sheriff and her CDC.

Those involved in the amalgamation of forces with the Congress for Democratic Change included the Liberty Party, former ruling National Patriotic Party, New DEAL Party, National Vision Party of Liberia, Liberia National Union, Progressive Democratic Party, amongst others. The ruling Unity Party put up a brave fight, already strengthened by an earlier merger with two outstanding political parties, the Liberia Action Party and the Liberia Unification Party.

But it appeared the conglomeration of the opposition was too hot to handle, such that the last minute nocturnal door-to-door crusade headed by President Sirleaf herself could not pay off. When polls closed on Tuesday evening and the NEC began counting the ballots cast, total silence swept across the county until trickles of progressive results ignited smiles in the opposition camp--smiles that never ceased until Chairman Flomoyan official broke the news.

Hardly did Flomoyan ended reading his verdict when spontaneous ululation spread in the streets and communities of Monrovia, perhaps including other outlaying districts of Montserrado, amongst supporters of the CDC and its political collaborators.

Burdens of Promises

While it may be true that the populace nature of the CDC, coupled with the overwhelming approbation from the broad-spectrum of the opposition bloc, would hardly have failed Madam Sheriff, the victory was not earned on a silver platter. Some pundits argue that despite the seemingly insurmountable force of the opposition bloc, Geraldine Doe-Sheriff and her CDC's political adroitness and dexterity provided an attractive political package that was easy to sell.

Perhaps the analysts are referring to the gamut of promises and allegiances weaved with the Candidates' moral, political and academic standings to make a buyable campaign case in the last two months. The thesis and key vision consummated into the campaign package of the CDC candidate "is to provide proper representation for the people of Montserrado County by remaining a loyal servant," and pledging to remain unblemished by corruption.

When the senatorial race is won by the CDC, "We will join with likeminded and progressive minds both within and without the Liberian Senate to draft, sponsor and support legislation which will address the problems facing the County and Liberia as a whole. And we pledge to ensure that the citizenry are involved in the decision-making process and not have edicts handed down to them," Madam Doe-Sheriff pledged to the people of Montserrado County.

She and her CDC fortress assured the electorates that they would commit themselves to work constructively to pass laws which will seek to support education; ensure equal rights before the law and the protection of our Constitution; preserve and protect the rights of the people and the nation; clean up the corrupt societal, economic and political systems; create an environment where Liberians will live in peace and harmony with one another; and where the people can maximize their potentials and achieve their goals.

Promises and vows made during the electoral campaign which also might have wooed or hypnotized the 58,248 voters to cast their ballots in favor of the Madam Sheriff included to promote economic development, growth and independence; promote technological development and advancement; encourage traditional culture and values and to build political institutions that will surpass all individuals. The CDC pro-Doe-Sheriff campaign also focused their promises and pledges on education.

"Without education, our country will remain in the doldrums of backwardness and impoverishment. Without education, poverty will not be reduced but will be increased," Madam Sheriff was often heard during rallies and debates during the campaign. "In this light, we have made a revolutionary proposal which could serve as a transformational national blueprint for the educational system of Liberia. We intend to sponsor an Educational Opportunity Bill upon our election at the Honorable House of Senate which will provide the panacea for the issue of access to education."

The bill, according to Madam Sheriff and her strategists will be comprehensive, and its points in the proposed legislation would be special taxation of 5 cents (US) on petroleum products to set up an "education escrow fund" to be used to support a post-high school student loan scheme; increase in budgetary allocation for education to support a teacher, and student exchange program; additional special taxation to fund special education programs for the blind and other members of our disabled community; increase in budgetary allocation to restructure and fund the free primary education program; increase in budgetary allocation to fund teacher training program, amongst other things.

On Health and Social Services, the CDC Campaign vowed to support and sponsor legislation to improve our health care and social services in Montserrado County, achievable by working with other members of the County Legislative Caucus to push for budgetary support to place a modern health center in each of the 14 districts.

Madam Doe-Sheriff also promised a Revolving Small Scale Loan Scheme intended to source funding for the establishment of a revolving fund to support a small scale loan scheme for less fortunate women and youths to enable them start small business

On Access and Participation in Decision-Making, the CDC former Chair said, as a servant of the people, "we will grant access to the people of Montserrado to our offices so that they too can form a part of the process of making decisions that will affect their lives. Our offices will remain open for suggestions and advice from the people. We will also hold regular consultative forums throughout the 14 districts of Montserrado County."

Regarding Transparency and Anti-Corruption Crusade, she pledged that upon her election to the Liberian Senate, she will continue the anti-corruption crusade "we have been championing over the years. We will join like minds in the Senate to review and mend flaws in existing anti-corruption legislation like the GAC ACT, the LACC ACT, the PPCC ACT, etc."

As a female and gender advocate, she raised the issue of Gender Equity--the marginalization of women, which she said is now a relic of the past as many modern and industrial societies have surged ahead in thrusting women at the forefront of social, economic and political agendas.

Empowering Liberian women, reversing years of exclusion and inattention and equalizing opportunities for women while giving them greater access to resources and opportunities are fundamental to us, she said, adding : "We believe that to advance the Women Empowerment Agenda requires situating more qualified women in strategic governmental positions from where they can continue to expand the reach of women's societal influence."

Additionally, she averred that women empowerment will not be limited to an elite few but must address the welfare of poor and struggling women also.

Making a solemn pledge to the People of Monsterrado County, Geraldine Doe-Sheriff said: "I, Geraldine Doe-Sherif, hereby pledge to the people of Montserrado County and Liberia that upon my election to the Honorable Liberian Senate, I will perform my duties to the best of my ability. I will remain an honest, committed and dedicated servant of the people. I will remain the voice of the voiceless. I will fight your battle. I will present an example for public service that will be worthy of emulation.

" I pledge to you my people, that I will faithfully uphold my promises as outlined in this Manifesto for Change. I pledge to remain by your side in all times as we fight to eradicate the scourge, the vicious evil of poverty, disease and ignorance. I pledge to make the fight for education as my mantra, because without education, Liberia will remain impoverished."

Powers and Capacities To Deliver

Liberian elder-folks often say, "A wise father judges from the muscles of the adolescent he sends to fetch a donkey". Sending CDC's "Iron Lady" to the revered House of Senate might not have been merely determined from the sugarcoated vows and pledges made, but also from her experience and capacity not from legislative standpoint, but from pro-people advocacy, maturity and other vital deportments and achievements over the years.

Just 40 years of age and with rural natal background, supporters of the CDC camp say, Madam Sheriff is joining the young adults legislators whose impoverished upbringing keeps them afire with legislative work that promote grassroots cause. Her supporters have often said her humility and passion to vanguard the cause of the downtrodden pushed her to joining forces with others to midwife the Congress for Democracy Change as an alternative to the socially, economically and politically elitist political groupings in the country.

Before excelling to the position of Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer of the CDC, she had served Acting Chairman and Founding Vice of the Party. CDC pundits say the question of literacy and academic capacity is firmly taken care of by the fact that currently, Madam Sheriff is a candidate of International Relations, at the Master Program of IBB School of International Studies, University of Liberia, having obtained BBA Management & Minor in Public Administration, Business College from the same University.

She had earlier obtained a Certificate in Executive Secretarial Science from the National Clerical Training Institute (Vocational School) Randall Street, Monrovia. The CDC Senator-elect has also got a relatively appreciable job experience that should be sufficient to start work at the Capitol without intensive orientation.

She had served as Superintendent for International Training, Operation Superintendent, Local Marketing Superintendent, Deputy Marketing Superintendent, Executive Secretary to the Managing Director, all at the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC).

She also was once the Executive Secretary to the President, First International Merchant Bank in Monrovia.

The newest CDC lawmaker's draws political strength from extra curriculum or social activities, working for or help creating a plethora of secular and religious bodies. From 2004 to present, she serves an Executive & Representative of Primer Clubs under the Liberia Football Association (LFA).

Other important placements include being former Parish Council/ Vice President, Knights & Ladies Auxiliary, Holy Martyr Parish Bardnersville; President, LPRC-Oilers Soccer Club; President, Graduate Class, University of Liberia; President, Catholic Women Organization, Holy Martyr Parish, Bardnersville; Founder, Tito Female Football Club.

With induction slated for next Tuesday, here comes the CDC Iron Lady, amid high expectation amongst the electorates giving the complexity of Liberian politics and intricacies of the Liberian Senate.

But days ago when she spoke to a local media outlet, she said: "The first thing Geraldine Doe Sheriff has a trademark. We are not belly- driven politicians. We believe in the emancipation of our people. We are focused, we have an agenda, we have a vision for our people and the issue of envelopes, I don't think anybody in their right mind will pass an envelope to the Chairman of a government in waiting - that will be a joke and that will be at your own detriment."

"I can assure you that no one will be crazy, because I am there to do the Liberian people's business, and I think right now if Madam Sirleaf is listening to me, she dare not try that with me because I am going to be watching my colleagues with an eagle eye and mine you right now as I speak to you, we have a collaboration of opposition political parties, that means before 2011 you will see a new breed of people at the National Legislature that are prepared to come together as an opposition bloc to bring the needed changes in this country for this new dispensation."

So true? The nation is poised to see the "revolutionary Senator" in action.