I guess the "Old Boy Network" is in full effect? Raises for Supervisors while the frontline staff is left with nothing???? All of you pushing for Thompson to be so different what do you have to say now???? Same crap different day!!!

I'd like to know the justification for paying these positions so much- that is roughly a 36% increase for each of them, yet we can't come to an agreement on the teacher contract because of the budget crisis?

teacher123, I don't have a dog (2) in the hunt anymore, they graduated a few years ago, and like you, I think the whole thing couldn't have been handled worse. But maybe the fiasco that appears to be getting ready to happen, will finally open some eyes. It could be a fun ride in the meantime.

The justification is they are moving from one of the least expensive places in the US to one of the most expensive.

Haven't you heard? Naples is paradise and you better be prepared to pay for paradise. Plus high prices keep the riff-raff out. Yeah, right.

and Here's Dennis!!

2 weeks on the job and he is ready to kick out Janssen and Williams (who the 3 clowns thought was good enough to be the interim super) and give his 2 gal pals a 36% and 17% raise over their current pay rate. COLA would be less than 5% and an outstanding raise would be in the range of 10%. Not for the Thompson Girls. Over the life of Thompson's contract he is only costing us 500,000.00 for these raises.

Michele LaBute should tell him to #*%@*& off since he tried to get someone to take her job as well but that guy decided the school system came before Dennis. She won't because she rightfully needs her job, but what a great statement if she could.

No Step Raises for the teachers that are doing the actual educational work but heck we surely have enough money to over pay the Thompson Girls!

Yes I am not over this overpaid politician's bs or the 3 Fools on our School Board. Should be a fun meeting on 9/11 as he spews some of his Rockford examples on why we should overpay the girls.

All you Donovan, Calabrese, Linda AND Charlie Abbott fans......this is just the beginning of Lord Dennis, and we hope you are happy.

Reorganization if fine, but it should be at the same salary as those administrators had last year, not an increase of substantial amounts. Telling teachers, bus drivers, secretaries, and custodians there is no money for raises is pathetic when there is money for thousands of dollars for administrators, especially someone coming from Illinois.

Crank up that administrative pay! Those teachers and support staff will just have to get by somehow.

School board members will certainly go along with whatever their new "Golden Boy" wants. It's not their money, and they'll just raise taxes to cover shortfalls, for the children, of course.

This is absolutley ridiculous. No one in thier right mind can find reason for this. Reorganize senior leadership...bring down your cronies...and give them all hefty raises. I thought the supporters of Thompson were against the good 'ol boy way?? All of this while teachers worl on last years contract because the adminstration tells them there is no money. What a joke.

"The plan is asking that the School Board abolish some of its offices, though not the people working in the offices, and includes pay increases for three people Thompson wants at the top" What does this mean for Jannsen, Williams and Kelly- Will they be reassigned? Why even give anyone a contract if its not going to be honored!!!

what a joke, what a complete joke....

This is pathetic! What kind of message are you sending to those of us actually working with the students. Thank you Dr. Thompson for telling us how you really feel about us teachers. I sense a teacher shortage coming on as teachers begin to flee this sinking ship! I love my job...I love my job...I love my job....

Hey Thompson!

Remember the Nicky Sofos disaster.

Talk about instilling a desire to learn in students. They learned all righy, that the school board are vengeful unqualified butt heads.

I don't know how the school board can justify paying these types of salaries. The governor of our state makes $133,000/year. Do they honestly think that these positions carry more weight than our leading state official? As a Collier county teacher for 21 years, I can tell you this is a huge slap in the face and totally demoralizing to our teachers. The school board says they can't afford to give teachers an increase - not even as little as 2%, yet they will consider giving these administrators double digit increases. This makes no sense to anyone - except the school board and those administrators that will reap the benefits. Voters need to remember this at election time and make sure that none of the sitting members remain. Teachers need to make our voices heard by attending the special meeting on Wed., Sept. 5.

I really hope this is reconsidered. This would be a terrible start to Dr Thompson's tenure. The educators will recieve a complete slap in the face if this is to happen. We all knew he was going to bring some of his people, but not by giving them $30 k raises over thier predecessors.

You gota be kidding me, right? Ok. I can see his new people, especially if he abolishes old positions. BUt to hire LaButt, at an even greater salary than she makes now? Folks, are you aware of the fact that the woman is double dipping? She retired and gets a retirement check. BUT she came back into the system and will now be getting another check. Do the math. That's about $15 thousand a month on top of her retirement!
Come on Thompson, can't you see what this is doing to the middle class people? I'm not for PC crap but this is ridiculous!
besides, Labutt is the old guard. We thought you were hired to get rid of them and clean house, get rid of the corruption. What happened here?
I was your supporter, but no more.

Some good points are being made. But what is more ridiculous, the proposals from Dr.Thompson or the fact that the Chairman of the School Board spent years pulling kids out of class to molest them . And who was the principal while this was going on.
The guy who just got fired.

Oh, oh. Please Dr. Thompson, do not do this. Not Mickey LaBute, the nastiest of nasty. Pure greed. She is so disliked. How could you do this to the community?

Sh** runs down hill . . . which is why my children go to private school! Thank you to the current school board for confirming my decision and making it so easy to write the check for their tuition.

Seeing I can not get any portion of my tax dollars back in the form of a school voucher, I sure hope the portion of the budget I pay for each year goes to teachers raises, not to raises for the overpaid, self-important, clueless adminstrators.

Mr. Lepore, you live in Naples, you heard the rumors. I don't remember ever seeing you speaking up at a school board meeting calling for an investigation. But then, that could have hurt business, right?

LaBute! Mr. Thompson, she is the old guard, a Baker lackey. What are you thinking?
Please, come to your senses.

OH MY GOSH! AGAIN I am so thrilled I left CCPS after 10 years! Moved to NC like most Floridians are trying to do. LOL Cost of living is less AND I am making MORE money as a teacher! We also got a 5% raise and an experience step! The Charlotte District is 141,000 students and operates on a budget the SAME as CCPS! Go figure.

As for LaBute she got where she is from being very CLOSE to the last superintendent, White who was chased to Orlando. She has retired TWICE from CCPS. She lives in a penthouse and has been smart enough, lord knows she is an ice princess and EVERYONE despises her, but nonetheless takes plenty each month in a salary for doing very little, other than harassing employees. For her to cry "no money" for teachers is of course what youwould expect, otherwise how could she line her pockets!!!

Still have family ties to Naples and always will, but after teaching there, I needed to move for my own professional growth and be paid a real salary. Oh, and did I mention we have NC Blue Cross here too! AND we get benefits when we retire unlike FL.

Anyway, we still have openings and need teachers, so as soon as your houses sell teachers, come on up! And did I mention, I sold my house in Naples, made $187k and bought a way better house for $150k Thanks Naples for the small pot of gold and thanks CCPS for the wake up call to move on to bigger and better things!

I was all for getting rid of Baker, and all for hiring Thompson. And he can brig in his own troops - good, get rid of the Baker bureaucracy.

But, at these salaries and keeping on the old admins at different positions??? WTF???

Come on Dennis. You are going to loose support pulling this stunt.

The new scariest phrase on the planet, "Hi I'm from the school board, and I am here to help"

The more things change the more they remain the same. Let's face it, rather than giving the teachers, support staff, drivers, cooks, janitors, etc. a meaningless 1 or 2 % raise they took that same pot of money, rolled it into one big pot, and split it up 4 ways so that the raise is actually meaningful. Good thinking - if you're one of the four getting the raise. With this same attitude displayed at NCH, you have to wonder just how long it will be before the people who actually do the work around here rise up, form unions, and shut some of these outfits down until they start paying a living wage. All I can say is it's a good thing that illegal aliens can't teach the FCAT or administer nursing care or they would get rid of the teachers and nurses and hire illegals to keep the salaries down.

I would just love to attend the board meeting tomorrow! Wait! It's at 2:00! Where will I be? I will still be at school teaching children. The teachers can't be too well represented if the meeting is during the school day. Oh my! I'll bet whoever scheduled the meeting never thought of that! Oh well! Who cares about the teachers anyway? Our new "savior" Dr. Thompson will take care of us. The school board would never do anything underhanded or illicit...I'm sure they will let us know how it turns out.

Brilliant move by Thompson! This will convince he Daily News' Editorial Board the he is "decisive, in command and a take charge kind of leader!"
Of course it will convince others that it is merely business as usual, but who listens to 'the little people'?

My neighbor does not blog but this is his feeling.

She support Dr. Thompson and all the staff and
students.

But she was really depressed tonight. Down because
of the neglect and disrepect she get from society.

All the talk about the kids the kids the kids is
pure hogwash in her eyes.

She lives frugally to help the students while
big money is tossed around the AD CTR. casually.

She is really depressed.

the Meeting is NEXT Tuesday, so the teachers can put in for the afternoon off for at least 50-100 or more if possible.

FILL THE ROOM WITH AS MANY STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AS YOU ALL CAN ORGANIZE!!!!!!

Let's see how the 3 1/2 Fools (Charlie will be there in the front row unless Brock has some poor subcontractor to pick on) act when the Taj is filled with the very people they profess to care about.

Linda can bring her fake bottle of tears and be her usual "confused, concerned" while Donovan wears another of his suits from Penny's and looks down at anyone not agreeing with him thru his femine half glasses, and Calabrese simply continues to pass gas during the meetings.

lord Dennis can suspend all the students that attend to challenge him wasting 500,000.00 of their parents money.

sowestfla1975 - the meeting is TOMORROW - it is a Special Board Meeting - there is only one topic on the agenda - have a look - its online on the district website for all to see - wonder why the NDN didn't pick up on this sooner - hmmmmmm??? Wonder why GED-boy and Actors Abbot and Calabrese haven't been seen in front of the media with regard to this? And Will1313 - all the money around the Ad Center - let me just mention that there are going to be but a handful of people there who are paid the "big" bucks - the rest of the grunts are on the same page, or lower than the teachers - so don't even go there with the Taj Mahal cracks -

To all of you 3-stooge/3-blind mice supporters - you asked for it - you got it - Now we all will pay dearly for it - talk about a travesty - lunacy - The show is about to begin!!!! there is no turning back now -

If anyone is actually surprised by any of this, well, then, you're a bigger fool than you seemed to be. And when Baker wins his lawsuit, why you'll all just be shocked - SHOCKED - at what could have possibly happened to get us here.

cornandbeans, hokerpoke, elohssa I remember when you three and your ilk were saying that it was just an "old boy network" and that Dr. Thompson will come down and clean house and cut the budget of the administration and I believe you said he would part the seas too however, I digress. Seems to me that bringing in two lackeys and giving them significant raises over the "old boys" and even giving another "old boy" a bigger raise really shows how Dr. Thompson is rolling up his sleeves to make a statement!!! Donovan, Calabrese, and Abbott should be embarassed however, I believe that they are so filled with hate that they really don't care anymore!!! Well fellow teachers this should be a fun ride....I just can't imagine how those three keep saying, "its for the kids" Please everyone vote those three out ASAP!!! P.S. Tony Snow the Press Secretary for the President of the United States was making less than Dr. Thompsons dixie chicks will be....(just a thought)

Kudos to Thompson for pulling the wool over the eyes of the three stooges on the board. Make sure you pick up a copy of the want ads as you are sure to be out of a job come election time! Thompson couldn't handle one day on the job in my classroom. The climate in my school '08-'09 just got cooler as in North Carolina cooler!!

The Dixie Chick are okay. LaBute is what I'm upset about. The rest will go in time. He is eliminating positions.

SCOTTLEPORE~

I think you need to clarify your statement about Chairman of the Board removing students from schools and the wrong doing. You are referring to a PAST Board member, Nelson Faeber. But YES! it was under the principal at the time, RAY BAKER!

As far as the new superintendent, Dr. Thompson, everyone is soo quick to cruify the man. No, I am not pleased about keeping ANY of the old guard around. I seem to recall Labute being associated with the athletic grading scandal at Golden Gate High School.

I do not begrudge the man from having some key trustworthy people at his sides. I would do same thing! Maybe a little high on the moving expenses.

I think we all need to give him a chance, stop the tirades and let the man do his job.

Everyone seems concerned about everyone EXCEPT the kids. Let's fix the schools. Stop bussing the kids miles away because their neighborhood school doesn't make the grade. If the principals don't improve the school's grade in two years, look for a new principal. The principal selects the teachers and staff. The principal is responsible for the relationship between the student and parent and teacher. Let's hope the administrators can quit fighting and feuding long enough to look at each of the schools that are failing the kids. Parents move their children instead of speaking up because they fear that speaking up will keep them from being able to move their child(ren). So the inept stay status quo.

Had enough? DECLARE YOUR INDEPENDENCE @ colliervotes.com

If they want to live in Paradise(Naples), then why don't they take a pay cut?

More spending and more people to follow - from Rockford - as the months progress. This is an all too common scenario. Is this good for Collier County ? Time will tell. In the mean time this will only motivate front line troops further(NOT).

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We need a recall election, quick.

According to several cost of living comparison calculators, housing in Rockford, Illinois is 58% of the national average, while Naples, Florida is 235% of the national average.

Overall, Rockford, Illinois is at 88% of the national average for the cost of living, while Naples, Florida is at 151%.

Translation: It's almost twice as expensive to live in Naples as it is to live in Rockford. So, why shouldn't these people get raises to entice them to move to somewhere their money will only go half as far? Wouldn't any of you expect the same thing if you were making a similar move?

Normally, I'm not up at this hour, but there's this giant sucking sound coming from the Taj Mahal...

Baker and his lawyers are LOVING this!! Thompson's lawyers love it, too. Another free trip to Florida for them!!!!!!!!!

Sorry, kid, you can't have that crayon.

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Wow...How about those teachers that make $40,000 living in Naples-How do you justify that, Nosebreather? FYI-my HOA dues went up more than my "raise" last year. They went up again this year...only guess what? No raise, no contract, no step increase....I have already proven to be good at what I do. I have already produced results for this district-the district doesn't have to bank on future promises from me-Where's my incentive to stay?

Tell me who doesn't think that this WASN'T part of the "pre-arrangment" with DLT - that the support for the salaries and reorganizaiton wasn't part of his contract negotiations? PAH-LEASE! These people have been on administrative leave from their positions in Rockford just as Thompson was - they have been waiting in the wings enjoying Naples, looking for housing for the last two weeks - I would bet my firsborne on that. DLT isn't confident enough to do this job alone, with his vast three-years experience - or to make the "hard decisions."

Dont think for one minute that GED-boy and Actors Abbott and Calabrese didn't have the stated resolution prepared all along wtih DLT's sweetheart contract -Did any of you stooge-supports think it would be different????

THIS IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG! Naples is a great place to live - Rockfordonians will be trickling down and compensated well - very well apparently - mark my words - you all will have hated Bakerantics - but this - HAHAHAAHA - all about the kids - jeez - old-heads will roll - new ones will be brought in - its just a matter of time - so who still says you get what you pay for?

P.S. Since school started this year, I have worked no LESS than a 12 hour days and weekends. That kind of schedule is typical, especially in schools where the demographics challenge us to keep our heads above water. For all of the "failing" schools you refer to, there are people working 24/7 to help the students and families that attend. You don't hear about the ones that get saved...the success stories. The "failure" rates would be much higher if not for the work of those teachers, support staff and administrators. How much longer do you expect them to carry on, at that pace, with the lack of support this district is showing them?

The band of idiots voted this clown and his traveling circus girls in, so now the good students & teachers of Collier County will suffer in the long run. Hurry up for the next school board election!

Muchwizernow: Sorry about that, I should have checked their site. And yes why in the heck didn't NDN write this article earlier? Reality says it would make no difference because the 3 Morons will vote for it, while Pat & Cathy will not.

Again to ALL SUPPORTERS of these 3 Clowns: $500,000.00 more than we need to spend for 3 positions, 2 of your neighbors terminated, and NO RAISES FOR OUR TEACHERS.

Dates to remember: Fall 2008 Vote NO TO THE LINDA/CHARLIE ABBOTT ticket and stop this BS. While you wait for that day of justice make sure you let the 3 of them know how much we can not stand what they are doing every time they have the nerve to go out in public.

Where is the teachers union in all of this? Why are they not taking a stand, publicly? This is borderline criminal, "My adminstrators need hefty paychecks to move here and work", well no duh, so do the teachers and support staff. If I were a teacher in this County I would be outraged......

I won't say I told you so, but I guess I just did, so there you have it.

DOWN WITH ABBOTT 2008!

Maybe Cabooseabrese will have another coronary and need to be replaced before this clown 3-2 majority can do any more damage in this town.

More pie sir?

Well, this is the time for the "I told you so's" (check out my grammer)
"get Baker-faker out, he does not care about staff and teachers" YEAH RIGHT!
Well, Baker is gone! Now, people are coming with very large salaries and the STAFF AND TEACHERS CAN NOT EVEN GET THERE ANNUAL STEP! AND WHY!
NO MONEY!
Oh did I mention, so many said that Baker did not care about anyone! Now he is gone so everything is fair! ok!
wow, Friday is pay day, I wonder what we all will get! OH THATS RIGHT! SAME AS LAST YEAR!
Wow, I'm so glad baker is gone! NOW EVERYTHING CAN BE FAIR!

I'm wondering if a lot of people are missing the fact that, we are paying for the positions being removed until 2009! in addition to the additions!
All of this at a time when staff steps have been put on hold, because, NO MONEY!
At this point it has nothing to do with giving Dr. Thompson a chance, it has to do with school staff! We think a staffing issues exist now! wait..............

Well, well. I must say I was very much in favor of terminating Baker. He was awful. Surely things HAD to improve.
Now it looks like all we have is more of the same garbage. Obscene amounts of money being thrown at more empty suits, but nothing for teachers and support staff?
New players, same game. I think teachers and staff have been woefully underpaid all along. To add more fat salaries at the top is an absolute insult to their efforts.
I don't know how to go about it, but the time has come for a referendum to abolish the present School Board structure. NO MORE SALARIES AND BENEFITS. Let's make the board a seven or nine member volunteer structure, with two year terms.
No more Carroll, Curatolo, Abbott, Donovan, Calabrese, Bruce, Faerber, et. al.
And those salary dollars should go to teachers and staff at the school level.

Who gave all those overpaid Baker administrators TWO YEAR contracts?
BAKER! The guy knew what he was doing, didn't he?

676-
Your comments concering me are simply wrong. In 1992 and 1994 I was very vocal about what was going on with the county commission and the flow of money between developers and commissioners. In 1998 I started to hear rumors about a school board member. I did a lot of homework and spoke to alot of people to get the facts straight. Many people in Naples stepped up to the plate and contacted FDLE and the govenors office to finally get an investigation going. The newspaper actually had a copy of the lawsuit against Mr.Faerber 2 years before the whole event went public. You have no idea what people were against who tried to stop this. No idea at all.But in the end justice did prevail. It just took a long time . Important people protect important people. It is sad but true.

teachtrouble: You are right on and I do think people are missing that important and expensive point. Let's summarize with general dollar amounts:

Williams contract payout thru 09: $233,000.00
Kelly contract payout thru 09: $251,000.00
New position pay increase thru
life of Thompson contact (5 yrs): $225,000.00
New position # 2 over existing: $285,000.00
New position # 3 over existing: $125,000.00
Subtotal: $1,119,000.00

Add Baker's balance due after
they win the lawsuit + legal exps: $900,000.00

Total guess at what the 3 Morons
and their lust to show us their
power will cost the taxpayers of Collier County.......................$$$$$$ $2,000,000.00
in REAL MONEY people.

Now what would the disrespectful 2% Step Increase have cost for our teachers and support staff??? All of you that supported Larry, Curly, Ms Moe and her monkey Charlie should be ashamed of it all.

HOKERPOKE....... you simply do not get it! BAKER IS GONE! you can not blame him for actions that take place after he is gone!~
What you are saying is, ANYTHING BAKER DID WRONG IT IS OK FOR THOMPSON TO DO!
This makes totally no sence!
Baker is no longer the issue, no longer making decisions! who do you blame for bad judgement now that Baker is gone, you blame Baker! are you hateful or just stupid!

Teachtrouble: It is hard for people like Hokerpoke to admit they were wrong. And I think Hateful "and' stupid, along with a pinch of self-serving and arrogant, is a good way to begin to describe him.

And the above mentioned $2,000,000.00 would give 2500 teachers at 40K their lousy 2% raise.

Gee Thompson, and his 3 new positions versus 2500 teachers.

Fake tears Linda/Charlie, No High School Diploma Donovan, and King Calabrese.. "for the children" huh???? You are truly repulsive!

I am done with this for the day because it makes no difference for the people that count.

This guy has lost my respect already! What a joke. I knew it would happen though. A suit is a suit, and not one of them really cares enough to make a difference. "Come join me in sunny Florida" he says to his buddies. I bet the school board will approve it too. He makes me sick.

I am also very depressed about this news. I am having to file bankruptcy because I just can't pay my bills anymore. My taxes, insurance, groceries go up, but my salary doesn't. I am not an irresponsible person. I went to college to become a teacher, but I am now working two jobs just to scrape by, but I just can't do it anymore.

Then to hear that the district won't even give me a 2% raise!! There are many disillusioned people here in Naples. We can't let these new people come in and earn 4 times as much as the average teacher earns. Where is the rationale?

I supported the 3 Board Members in their decision to fire Baker. I figure they wouldn't be stupid enough to fire someone without just cause and proof. But after this enormous pay for Thompson and starting salaries of $170,000 each for his two cronies as well as giving LaBute, who most can't stand and wanted her out, a 36% increase in pay is ludicrous. These five Board Members need to rethink the passing of the pay increase for LaBute and bringing in two people at that high of pay.
I will campaign against them and they will not get my vote. I will tell everyone I know not to vote for them. These 5 Board Members have to go. As far as I'm concerned, they have become part of the GOB system. They have lost my support if they do this. Other people working in the system deserve better pay for what they do instead of giving it to these Administrators and then to keep all the existing people? For how long? What are they going to be doing? The system is already top heavy. There was no mention of Puryear. What does she get to stay and do? She is not needed. He could cut that person out but wait, she probaby has a contract too thanks to Baker and Company. Get LaBute out. She is hateful and mean. Thompson was suppose to rid the GOB system and what is he doing? Bring in his own GOB system to colaborate with the existing GOB system. It all smells.

Norita....... My heart goes out to you and many others I know in that same position. All these people who were "All we need is new leadership and it will all be ok" well, it is on the verge of being worse!
To Have said the STEP is on hold because the money is not there and then do this! It is a major slap in the face!
All this Special Interest Group trash talk and sound bite junk that was going on! Fact is the Chamber was RIGHT! Now we haver overpaid newcommers and our staff and teachers hearing we have no money!
This is wrong! Mr. Calabrese, maybe we need an adit for this! If it were one of you "check book" adits and it was done on taking care of teachers and staff......... yeah right, like you care!

wow, 2 million dollars , devided by 100,000 households(if that were all there were in Naples) cost us a whopping $20.00 each , if 200,000 households it cost us a whopping $10.00 each. You people are just sick.

If the schools improve under Thompson, I would vote to pay an extra $100.00 a year for increased teacher and school employee salaries.

But, if all you do is whine and not support the man, I hope he cans all of you.

Where ever I have worked in my life, I have been considered one of the best employees there. Cause I allways tried my best, and offered to do more if I could help. When layoffs came , I still had a job. Whiners and its not my job, were the first to be gone. As it should be.

Grow up people, you are not doing anyone a favor by doing your job. Your employer is doing you a favor giving you a job. You should show your appreciation.

No surprise, after all, StupidinRockford told us that this was going to happen..

Please do not place scandal at Golden Gate High School - there was not and has not ever been an athletic grading scandal at Golden Gate High School. Despite the media's desire to paint Golden Gate High School (and Lely High School for that matter) in poor light, it is one of the best run schools in the district and it is done without the support of rich, involved parents who grease the political system.

While Baker may have had his faults, and so will Thompson, we should evaluate each current upper-level employee on their own merits, not conjecture. Dr. Williams has been a hard-working and extremely competent asset to CCPS.

RainMan....... I was bugged by your lack of awareness until I remembered!
DUSTIN HOFFMAN PLAYED YOU IN A MOVIE!!!!!

Ugh, that picture, acne scars and all..........yuck. Maybe spend some of that money on skin resurfacing and rogain........

And you, BigmRich, are an ugly person through and through and I have never seen your face. Rotten comments from rotten people. Give the guy a few months befor your crusify him. And you, teachtrouble, say that the chamber was right? Most of you probably ARE the chamber only you all have teach in your names like you think your fooling people. The Chamber's all done. Write your stupid comments but they will get you no where.
Thompson will probably do ok once he uncovers all the corruption. Wait. Just wait.

The Chamber is not the same down here. Its a bunch of self important idiots who think their real hotshots. Big, big difference. Never saw anything like this down here. Something stinks down here with this Chamber and everybody knows it. Never saw such an interest in school district like here. But theres a billion dollar budget down here. Think that has anything to do with it? I don't know how Thomspon will handle things, but I do think he's a good man. Got to give the guy a chance.