diff --git a/src/exo/main.py b/src/exo/main.py
index 86a46561be..d901432e4c 100644
--- a/src/exo/main.py
+++ b/src/exo/main.py
@@ -127,7 +127,8 @@ async def create(cls, args: "Args") -> Self:
         election = Election(
             node_id,
             # If someone manages to assemble 1 MILLION devices into an exo cluster then. well done. good job champ.
-            seniority=1_000_000 if args.force_master else 0,
+            is_candidate=not bool(args.bootstrap_peers),
+            seniority=(2**31 - 1) if args.force_master else 0,
             # nb: this DOES feedback right now. i have thoughts on how to address this,
             # but ultimately it seems not worth the complexity
             election_message_sender=router.sender(topics.ELECTION_MESSAGES),
diff --git a/src/exo/shared/election.py b/src/exo/shared/election.py
index 958a83d2fa..8f7ccc8199 100644
--- a/src/exo/shared/election.py
+++ b/src/exo/shared/election.py
@@ -26,10 +26,10 @@ class ElectionMessage(FrozenModel):
 
     # Could eventually include a list of neighbour nodes for centrality
     def __lt__(self, other: Self) -> bool:
-        if self.clock != other.clock:
-            return self.clock < other.clock
         if self.seniority != other.seniority:
             return self.seniority < other.seniority
+        if self.clock != other.clock:
+            return self.clock < other.clock
         elif self.commands_seen != other.commands_seen:
             return self.commands_seen < other.commands_seen
         else:
diff --git a/src/exo/shared/models/model_cards.py b/src/exo/shared/models/model_cards.py
index 8911b9323c..fd59259372 100644
--- a/src/exo/shared/models/model_cards.py
+++ b/src/exo/shared/models/model_cards.py
@@ -345,6 +345,17 @@ async def fetch_config_data(model_id: ModelId) -> ConfigData:
         download_file_with_retry,
         resolve_model_dir,
     )
+    from exo.shared.constants import EXO_MODELS_READ_ONLY_DIRS, EXO_MODELS_DIRS
+    # Check local directories first before attempting any HF download
+    logger.info(f"LOCAL CHECK: {model_id} dirs={[str(d) for d in (*EXO_MODELS_READ_ONLY_DIRS, *EXO_MODELS_DIRS)]}")
+    _normalized = model_id.normalize()
+    for _search_dir in (*EXO_MODELS_READ_ONLY_DIRS, *EXO_MODELS_DIRS):
+        _local_config = _search_dir / _normalized / "config.json"
+        if _local_config.exists():
+            async with aiofiles.open(_local_config, "r") as f:
+                return ConfigData.model_validate_json(
+                    await f.read(), context={"model_id": str(model_id)}
+                )
 
     target_dir = await resolve_model_dir(model_id)
     config_path = await download_file_with_retry(
@@ -369,6 +380,18 @@ async def fetch_safetensors_size(model_id: ModelId) -> Memory:
         resolve_model_dir,
     )
     from exo.shared.types.worker.downloads import ModelSafetensorsIndex
+    from exo.shared.constants import EXO_MODELS_READ_ONLY_DIRS, EXO_MODELS_DIRS
+    # Check local directories first before attempting any HF download
+    logger.info(f"LOCAL CHECK: {model_id} dirs={[str(d) for d in (*EXO_MODELS_READ_ONLY_DIRS, *EXO_MODELS_DIRS)]}")
+    _normalized = model_id.normalize()
+    for _search_dir in (*EXO_MODELS_READ_ONLY_DIRS, *EXO_MODELS_DIRS):
+        _local_index = _search_dir / _normalized / "model.safetensors.index.json"
+        if _local_index.exists():
+            async with aiofiles.open(_local_index, "r") as f:
+                index_data = ModelSafetensorsIndex.model_validate_json(await f.read())
+            metadata = index_data.metadata
+            if metadata is not None and metadata.total_size is not None:
+                return Memory.from_bytes(metadata.total_size)
 
     target_dir = await resolve_model_dir(model_id)
     index_path = await download_file_with_retry(
diff --git a/src/exo/worker/runner/llm_inference/tool_parsers.py b/src/exo/worker/runner/llm_inference/tool_parsers.py
index 26140d9c4a..ec6990bb3e 100644
--- a/src/exo/worker/runner/llm_inference/tool_parsers.py
+++ b/src/exo/worker/runner/llm_inference/tool_parsers.py
@@ -240,5 +240,32 @@ def make_json_parser() -> ToolParser:
 def infer_tool_parser(chat_template: str) -> ToolParser | None:
     """Attempt to auto-infer a tool parser from the chat template."""
     if "<tool_call>" in chat_template and "tool_call.name" in chat_template:
+        # Qwen3 uses <function=Name><parameter=k>v</parameter></function> XML format
+        # inside <tool_call> tags, not JSON
+        if "function=" in chat_template:
+            return make_qwen_xml_parser()
         return make_json_parser()
     return None
+
+
+def _parse_qwen_xml_calls(text: str) -> list[ToolCallItem] | None:
+    """Parse Qwen3's <function=Name><parameter=k>v</parameter></function> XML format."""
+    import re
+    text = text.removeprefix("<tool_call>").removesuffix("</tool_call>").strip()
+    fn_match = re.match(r"<function=(\w+)>(.*)</function>", text, re.DOTALL)
+    if not fn_match:
+        return None
+    name = fn_match.group(1)
+    params_text = fn_match.group(2)
+    arguments: dict[str, str] = {}
+    for m in re.finditer(r"<parameter=(\w+)>\n?(.*?)\n?</parameter>", params_text, re.DOTALL):
+        arguments[m.group(1)] = m.group(2).strip()
+    return [ToolCallItem(name=name, arguments=json.dumps(arguments))]
+
+
+def make_qwen_xml_parser() -> ToolParser:
+    return ToolParser(
+        start_parsing="<tool_call>",
+        end_parsing="</tool_call>",
+        _inner_parser=_parse_qwen_xml_calls,
+    )