Who needs soaps with the Gold Dome?

Leave it to love to land a feller in a pickle. Ain't the first time that's happened.
'Course I'm talkin' 'bout Georgia DOT Board Chairman Mike Evans and his unexpected resignation last week. He frankly 'fessed up 'bout the romance 'tween his chairmaness and new DOT Commissioner Gena Abraham. And let me be the first to say they make a handsome couple.
Those who would apply the term "scandal" to this situation can do that only in the Republican sense. Both these folks are single, y'know. They've done nothin' to make a Democrat even blush, I’m a-thinkin’. "Scandal" indeed.
But rules is rules, and DOT frowns like a hardcase hall monitor on intimate relationships 'tween subordinates and their higher-ups. DOT Commissioner Abraham reports to the board Evans heads, y’see.
Apparently put on the spot regardin’ their mushy doin's at a DOT Board meetin' last Thursday, Evans did the right thing. He resigned (effective June 30) in hopes of preservin' Abraham's job as commissioner. For Georgia's sake, let's pray that works.
See, there's more than true love wrought up in this brew-hay-hay. There's politics a-plenty. When Governor Perdue put forward sho-nuff qualified Abraham for DOT Commissioner, dark forces 'neath the Gold Dome covened against her.
Hexed with money woes and mismanagement, DOT needed a reformer. Perdue knighted Abraham, who holds a doctorate in engineerin’ and, as it turns out, the bald-faced gumption to call DOT mismanagement what it is wherever she finds it.
But before this Joan of Arc could swish her blade 'gainst the minions of good-ole-boyism, she had to face trial by roundtable––the roundtable of the DOT Board, that is.
House Speaker Glenn Richardson, new dark lord of the state capitol's lower chamber, lobbied the roundtable to deny Abraham, wantin’ to fix the job instead for some hand-picked crony. Board chairman, Mike Evans, cast the decidin' vote in Abraham's favor.
This (I'm assumin') was afore the dashin' Evans fell for the fair Abraham. But I've no doubt her show of competence durin’ that board showdown presented much to be admired.
Thwarted, evil lord, Richardson, vowed to axe Evans and laid his traps. The House hellion plotted to finish Evans by nixin' his reelection to the DOT chairmanship during our last General Assembly.
Richardson swung his mace as house speaker. He pressured the lawmakers who elect Evans by threatenin’ to pull their legislative perks and influential committee seats––a power play he enjoys as house speaker.
I'd call it a tribute to Evans and the decency of legislators who re-elected him (includin’ the honorable Tom Graves) that Mike Evans was retained as chairman, though Richardson made good on each vindictive promise.
But, as love would have it, Evans has now offed his own self from the chairman's post, leavin' Graves stripped of committee influence, enjoyin' the office digs in Richardson's doghouse––all for re-electin' Evans to a term he now won't fill.
Sometimes a man of honor don't win––except in the hearts of the people.
Still, I figure Evans might at least ask Graves to be his best man.
Ain’t love grand?

Sincerely,
Jasper Pickens