Maurice "Baldy" Broussard

Appearance

Brown eyes set deep in a strong face. Outdoors, a woolen blue "tuc" to keep the head warm; indoors, a magnificent bald head shines in glory over a handsome face. Navy blue woolen coat, flannel shirt and black trousers. A big-chested brawling man.

Background

Maurice Broussard was born in the French-speaking "canuck" district of West Manchester. Memere looked after the children while the parents were off to work each day. At her knee, he heard tales of the forest - the old stories of wolf and not wolf, of spirit and sprite. Later on, the dull gray stories told at school by the nuns held no interest. He was working alongside his father in the cotton mills at age 16. At 18 he married the lovely dark-haired Corinne. There were 2 children, a policeman killed in the line of duty, and a daughter, Monique, living in California. Months ago, his lovely Corinne died, leaving him alone at age 50. He lives alone now in the city he loves and knows so well, at a small West Manchester home that was his parents before him.

His work has always been hard: union boss of the cotton mills for nine ears. Tough opponent of the mill bosses, he's found a use for every legal angle learned in the 6 years of evening labor relations classes leading to a college degree. In the bitter strikes of the 1970s he proved his leadership and intelligence by moving things toward a settlement on the union's terms, and moved on to take over the union. Now the power base of the unions is slipping away. The city is run by venal politicians, corrupt civil servants and ineffective cops, probably controlled by the same mill bosses he's fought for years. The streets aren't safe at night. The working man is going broke.

So Baldy decided to run for office, for City Council. He had plenty of friends among the West side tenemant-dwellers. He'd get the workers' vote. But to be effective, a politician needed to reach out to more voters, and get to them wherever they're found, at picnics, on the street, or in the pubs. The campaign was in full swing when the Mayor of Manchester, Hamilton Franklin, died unexpectedly.

The Democratic Party offered Baldy its endorsement for a run for Mayor. He took it, and ran with it. But when he won an upset victory in the election, he soon found being Mayor was a full-time headache.

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