| David Marbury | |
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| Portrayed By | Jay Mohr |
|---|---|
| Gender | Male |
| Date of Birth | November 2, 1976 |
| Age | 31 |
| Zodiac Sign | Scorpio |
| Aliases | None |
| Place of Birth | New York City, NY, USA |
| Current Location | New York City, NY, USA |
| Occupation | State Assemblyman |
| Known Relatives | John and Mildred Marbury (divorced parents) |
| Significant Other | None |
| Known Abilities | None |
| First Appearance | Genesis |
State Assemblyman David Marbury's first line on his cast page, woo hoo.
History
David Marbury was born and raised in New York City. His parents were successful grocery store owners in Yonkers, though they were frugal and made their modest wealth go farther. They were active in their church, though David was not that interested in religion.
As a youth, David was smart, successful, and worked hard. He was never the top of his class - he was never the handsomest guy in school - he was never the fastest guy on the track team or the strongest guy on the football team, but he was successful, and he was popular, and he got the girl, and he got good grades, because of one trait that he had and has: he worked hard. David seemed to be able to squeeze out extra time from the day, get teams working together faster and better, and most importantly, he had remarkable diligence, or, in certain circumstances, stubbornness. He would get a task and stick to it all the way to the end. A true leader, he remains well-remembered by peers, community members and teachers as a student who worked to make the world of his youth better.
He got the politics bug young, and ran for Student Council President in every year of high school. He won every year - even the first, when he divided the vote between two popular cheerleaders by starting nasty rumors, each attributed to the other, and forming a coalition of the D&D nerds and the heavy metal stoners. When he attended the Bronx Community College, he did the same thing - dominating student government and even making inroads into influencing the teacher's union. He lost a few battles for the first time, learning the hard way that even diligence, the right positions, persuasion and electoral manipulations can't guarantee anything in politics. Like the gambler, losing occasionally made him love the game all the more.
David learned fast that the taste of power came with a need for ruthlessness and he had the touch of narcissism that came with the natural leader. He learned the many tricks of the politician: dividing and conquering, horse trading, spin control. He graduated in the top ten percent of his class, was selected to give the commencement speech, which was firmly and passionately in favor of community service and giving back to the world that they would one day inherit. After a brief stint in Americorps, David moved south into the Bronx neighborhoods he had lived on the edge of and began to work as a community organizer. He wanted to improve things for the city, but lacked the political clout and ability to identify with the racial experiences of the black and Latino voters whose loyalty was needed to go anywhere in the Bronx.
But then in late 2004, the bright young committeeman who struggled at homeless shelters, churches and state agency citizen groups came under the wing of a powerful politician who needed support in the Bronx, Deputy Mayor Tommy Robinson. was able to give Marbury the legitimacy he needed in the black community to lead several key community projects - in return, Marbury turned his significant talents to Robinson's service. Robinson fostered Marbury into power, but Marbury knew that he would never get ahead of Robinson and Robinson's star had risen about as far as it could. He tricked Robinson into running for higher office, backstabbing and sandbagging him to clear out a position for someone who could take David further - and they followed through on their promise. Marbury was going to Albany.
However, something had happened in 2005 that would change David Marbury's political career forever.
A visit to a struggling inner city hospital clinic led to a chance meeting with a young man who could move things with his mind. David immediately saw that the world was wider than he had learned in college, and he saw both the danger and promise of the Evolved immediately. He maintained contact with the young man, helping him and his family through the system - in return the young man became loyal to him. Telekinesis wasn't the most useful power for a politician's crony to have, but it didn't hurt - every so often David asked him to surreptitiously lift some documents from someone's pocket or desk, or slide a listening device under someone's table, but that was all. What was most important was that David began actively seeking out others with these abilities. Strange events would often have someone from Deputy Mayor Robinson's office, directed by his young protege, checking around to see if there was "something there worth picking up", in David's euphemistic phrase. Increasingly often, there was someone, and they were usually alone, afraid, and desperate for a helping hand. In all sincerity and genuineness, David Marbury was there to be that helping hand - in return for their loyalty and assistance. He rarely actually brought them onto his staff, but his Rolodex swelled with a scattering of names that had a little lightning bolt symbol written on it, and they were happy to help the man who had reassured them and protected them, had obtained them jobs, or food assistance cards, state health insurance, or even just given them a sympathetic ear.
Using their abilities, his own savvy and organizational skills (and the aforementioned backstabbing of his mentor), Marbury was able to clear a position in the State Assembly a year early - a special election would be easier for him to win, which he did, in 2007. Marbury was elected to the 83rd Assembly District, the northernmost district in Bronx County, and unlike many other freshman State Assemblymen, he went to Albany with an organization already in place to back him, an organization that had something nobody else knew existed. He went there with Evolved working as his operatives. His first target is the office of Assistant Majority Whip - a post that he is well-suited for, much moreso than the current elderly occupant. Throwing a monkey wrench inside his own party is a dangerous move, but he doesn't have time to waste - he has to be re-elected in 2008 and he spent virtually his whole war chest just getting to where he is.
It's important to note that David is quite idealistic. He is truly fighting for better streets, better law enforcement, the destruction of drug gangs, better sanitation, decent jobs, affordable housing, and a good safety net for all of New York's citizens. Someday he even hopes to "go national" and head to Washington to do the same for the whole U.S. But there's no question - Marbury is ambitious. His ambition is part of his idealism, they can only exist hand in hand. He craves power, because he knows he can do good with it. He sees the Evolved as an advantage that will only be exclusively his for a short time - something to be used now before, inevitably, others begin to pick up on it and their use in politics becomes routine. Although he will willingly be unscrupulous, it is always in service of a higher cause. His passion for justice and equality comes through in his speeches and in his personal actions. Whether his ideals or the pragmatic compromises will eventually win out, not even he knows. Although he's having fun and enjoys his life as a politician greatly, he's almost afraid of how fast he's come this far - if there's a wall at the end of the ride, he's going to hit it hard.
He has, until now, been too small-time to come to the attention of others in the Evolved world.
Timeline
- 1976 - David Marbury is born.
- 2004 - David joins the staff of Deputy Mayor Robinson of New York City.
- 2006 - Deputy Mayor Robinson runs unsuccessfully for Governor.
- November 2007 - In the special election, David Marbury is elected State Assemblyman for the 83rd Assembly District, in Bronx County.
Quotes
- "Well I am, God forgive me, a politician, but I am also someone who ran for public office because I believe we will be judged not by the efforts we make on behalf of those who vote for us, or those who contribute to our campaigns, or those who make up the tax base. I believe we will be judged by what we provide to the weakest, not the strongest. The most vulnerable - they are the test. That is the test. That is my test. You have my word on this."
Trivia
- The "Black Horse Cavalry" was a gang of corrupt 19th century assemblymen who would introduce "strike bills" threatening to revoke the charter of corporations and businesses if they did not cough up bribes.
Themesong
You can run on for a long time, run on for a long time, run on for a long time. Sooner or later God'll cut you down. Sooner or later God'll cut you down. Go tell that long-tongued liar, go and tell that midnight rider, tell the rambler, the gambler, the back biter, tell 'em that God's gonna cut 'em down. Tell 'em that God's gonna cut 'em down. Well my goodness gracious let me tell you the news, my head's been wet with the midnight dew. I've been down on bended knee - talkin' to the man from Galilee. He spoke to me in the voice so sweet, I thought I heard the shuffle of angels' feet. He called my name and my heart stood still when he said, "John, go do my will." Go tell that long-tongued liar, go and tell that midnight rider, tell the rambler, the gambler, the back biter, tell 'em that God's gonna cut 'em down. Tell 'em that God's gonna cut 'em down. You can run on for a long time, run on for a long time, run on for a long time. Sooner or later God'll cut you down. Sooner or later God'll cut you down. Well you may throw your rock and hide your hand, workin' in the dark against your fellow man. But as sure as God made black and white, what's done in the dark will be brought to the light. You can run on for a long time, run on for a long time, run on for a long time. Sooner or later God'll cut you down. Sooner or later God'll cut you down. Go tell that long-tongued liar, go and tell that midnight rider, tell the rambler, the gambler, the back biter. Tell 'em that God's gonna cut you down. Tell 'em that God's gonna cut you down. Tell 'em that God's gonna cut you down.