[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: Gopherville: Chaper Seven

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Posted by Speed Gibson:
Gopherville: Chaper Seven
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1210475250.shtml


   Previously: [1]1 [2]2 [3]3 [4]4 [5]5 [6]6
   Minnesota Representative Alma Sargent entered the meeting late as
   usual, offering her usual apologies as she sat down.
   "All right, we're all here. How do we do this?" asked Senator George
   Babbitt. Sitting in Babbitt's other visitor's chair was Edith
   Cortwright, Chair on the Senate Education Committee.
   "You'll do nothing if you're smart, George," replied Cortwright. "You
   can't force a merger with someone who doesn't need you." She was known
   throughout the Capitol for being direct, often blunt. But she also had
   a sense of humor, smiling broadly now. "You have to admit, it's a
   classic twist of fate. You finally get elected head of the Chamber of
   Commerce and Wal-Mart opens on the edge of town." Babbitt gave no
   reaction. "And you can't stand it, can you?"
   "That isn't the way I'd look at it. The merger would have been good
   for both Zenith and Gopherville." The Senator was referring to a
   consolidation of the two school districts. It had been talked about in
   both towns, in response to their mutual problems of fewer students,
   aging buildings, and tighter budgets. But no one had put a proposal on
   the table to date. It fell to him, George Babbitt thought, or had
   thought. He took no real pleasure from it. It just had to be done.
   He had been quietly searching for an opposite number, some Gopherville
   graduate or official with whom to share the stage, to balance the
   ticket so to speak. It just wouldn't look right otherwise. He was
   Zenith's favorite son, co-captain of his football team and the most
   feared linebacker for 50 miles in his day. After a full athletic
   scholarship at the University of Minnesota, lettering twice in
   football, he went on to law school when no pro team picked him up.
   After cutting his teeth for a a couple of St. Paul law firms, he had
   moved back to Zenith in 1989. He never married.
   Alma Sargent represented District 88B, which includes both Gopherville
   and Zenith. Jane Cavanaugh served District 88A, Babbitt the Senator
   for both, District 88. "George, there's no hurry, especially not now."
   Alma said.
   "I'm more interested in what's going on in Gopherville proper, this
   sugar daddy of theirs," said Cortwright.
   "You know what we know, Edith. Do you know Reisling at all, Alma?"
   "I do," Sargent replied. "We worked professionally on a nursing home
   project in St. Clair, have a few common clients." Sargent's husband
   Eddie was a mechanical contractor, primarily commercial.
   "And?"
   "And he's a good accountant."
   "So why is he doing this? Since when does an accountant of all people
   write big checks for no reason?"
   "Maybe you should ask him."
   "I was hoping you would," said Babbitt.
   "What's the point?" asked Cortwright. "Once he hands over the money,
   he's out of the picture, for at least a year as I understand it."
   "I want to know what he wants in return."
   "Again, what's the point? Money? Sex? Afraid he'll run for your seat?
   It could just be that he's just a nice guy."
   "He is that," said Sargent. "He's been all business in my dealings
   with him, competent, pleasant, bought his share of the coffee.
   Whatever he does for church and charity, he keeps it to himself."
   "Until now," said Babbitt. "I tell you, ..."
   "Let it go, George," observed Cortwright. "Speculate on your own time.
   The merger's off and unless you can come up with some other specific
   need for that $140,000 you had earmarked for that, we're done here."
   Babbitt sighed, shook his head. "Part of that was to expand and
   remodel the district offices in Zenith, maybe 30 grand or so?"
   "What did you promise, George?" asked Sargent.
   Cortwright picked up the copy of SF 1073 from Babbitt's desk. "I'll
   get you $20,000 for a remodel, but no more and no expansion. It'll
   happen next year, you wait. Let's get on with the college's wish
   list." She saw Babbitt looking at the wall. "George?"
   "Sorry. This whole business still bugs me. I'm going back this
   weekend."

References

   1. http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1207374623.shtml
   2. http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1207774475.shtml
   3. http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1208057658.shtml
   4. http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1208671051.shtml
   5. http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1209093505.shtml
   6. http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1209169946.shtml