The Winston Administration is a political administration on Spin City.
About[]
The Winston Administration is the staff to the office of Mayor Randall Winston following his successful election in 1996. The administration maintains the running of New York City whilst attempting to change policy. The staff to the Mayor is mostly situated around the Deputy Mayor, who serves as the administration's engine.
Story[]
The mayor is elected into office with a respectable margin and is popular with voters, perhaps due to his candor as the mayor tends to err on the side of emotion rather than political shrewdness when things come to a head. Thus, his Deputy Mayor, Mike Flaherty, plays the Machiavellian soldier who cleans up the sometimes bumbling mayor's gaffes, and maneuvers events to his, and the administration's, advantage. Mike does become conscientous at times, but usually gets over it quickly. Despite this, his assistant deputy mayor, Stuart Bondek, serves as a walking reminder of how unscrupulous politicians can get, a proverbial devil on his shoulder, which allows Mike to appear human in comparison and, despite his political callousness, Mike treats his staff and friends with kindness and respect.
The administration's first year in office sees the acquisition of an office for minority issues when, following a gaffe from the mayor, Mike hires LGBTQIAP+ activist Carter Heywood. Carter promises to be the administration's worst nightmare, and, at times frustrated by the minutiae of bureaucracy, brings his activism to his position. At one point he goes above Mike to the mayor in order to start a conversation on a needle exchange program to prevent the spread of AIDS/HIV through drug use. This at first puts the mayor in a difficult position politically, which Carter later assumes responsibility for, although the press reiterates Carter's points and then question whether the administration has the political courage to follow through. At another point, Carter allies with Nikki to stage a wedding in order to prove how easy it is for heteronormative marriage to occur regardless of its intentions, while anyone in the LGBTQIAP+ community is not allowed to marry. Mike attempts to thwart Carter's plan to politically protect the mayor, which strains their relationship.
The mayor attempts to find his footing when faced with the popularity of his predecessor, Mayor Garfield. The mayor's loveless marriage rocks the boat as the mayor almost has an affair and Mike attempts to not only keep the mayor from the scandal, but ultimately to keep the marriage afloat despite the mayor's obvious misery. Mike eventually relents when the mayor separates from his wife, culminating in him leaving town with Paul unannounced, setting the administration ablaze.