Former Lial governor reflects on political career, says Senate is too 'uppity'
MAVOCKE--Former Lial Gov. Gavin Gymbal is "happy" to be back in the National Assembly, where he served for years. But he also misses his most recent job, the governorship.
"It's great to be back here in Mavocke with my colleagues and to try to address some of the issues that are facing this country at a national level," Gymbal told the Monvaille Star Journal. "But being governor was probably one of the greatest opportunities of my life, and one of the funnest jobs I've ever done. I do miss it, without a doubt."
Gymbal served just one term as governor. He decided not to seek re-election in 2010, but instead ran for his old Assembly seat, Mansill, in southwestern Lial, which he held prior to winning the governorship in 2006. He's the first governor since the 1800's to return to the Assembly after serving in a governorship.
Why did he not run for re-election?
"I really missed working in Mavocke collectively with members from all over the country. I loved being governor, and I do miss it. But I also missed the Assembly, and I hated the nasty partisanship that paralyzes Clothen. It's bad in Mavocke too, of course. But in Clothen, the Nationalist machine is so strong, so much stronger than the Nationalist Party as a whole throughout the country. So I don't miss that part of it," Gymbal said.
He also reflected on his legislative career, and what issues he's focusing on. Prior to 2006, Gymbal championed fiscal and defense issues.
"I'm still going to work on those things, but I'm also going to focus on the environment and particularly on education and civil liberties. When I served as governor, I learned so much about the environment and even more about the education system that is failing in this country. I tried very hard to improve the education system in Lial to help every child succeed and I want to help do that at the national level. And in terms of civil liberties, I think we're seeing a very quick and decisive erosion of them thanks, in large part, to the federal government. And I think someone needs to stand up and take a stand and say, 'enough is enough.'"
When asked why he ran for the National Assembly instead of the more prestigious Senate, Gymbal told the Star Journal that the Senate is too "uppity."
"The Senate, and I mean this with no disrespect to my colleagues in the upper house...but the Senate has a very uppity feel to it. There's a sort of arrogance, I think, to the Senate. And it is the upper house, of course. But the members are elected by the people just like the members of the Assembly. And the atmosphere is just so far from reality in the Senate. I would much rather work in the more down-to-earth Assembly any day. I think members of the Assembly are more in tune with what their constituents want. And I'm a very normal, down-to-earth person. I didn't run for office so I could become an elite and a power-thirsting politician. I ran for office so I could make a difference and be a loud-sounding voice for the common man."
Finally, the Star Journal asked Gymbal about his younger brother Luke, who is a freshman senator from Ansleigha, but recently lost in the Senate reduction lottery as the Senate is reducing the number of members from five per state to four.
"I think Luke is a bright guy and an excellent public servant. He did a great job of representing Ansleigha in the Assembly and then last year he was elected to the Senate in a very close race, but I think he's done a great job in the Senate. And I'm very proud of him. I know he's disappointed he lost in the lottery, and I am too because I think he's a great, effective voice for his state and for the conservative mission. But I'm confident that he will be back, whether it's in 2012 or 2014 or whenever. I think he will be back. I know he's not done serving his state, though in what capacity, I'm not sure."
Luke Gymbal is rumored to be considering a 2012 run against fellow Ansleigha Senator Jan Vanderhoogen, though his office has not confirmed if he will run.
MAVOCKE--Former Lial Gov. Gavin Gymbal is "happy" to be back in the National Assembly, where he served for years. But he also misses his most recent job, the governorship.
"It's great to be back here in Mavocke with my colleagues and to try to address some of the issues that are facing this country at a national level," Gymbal told the Monvaille Star Journal. "But being governor was probably one of the greatest opportunities of my life, and one of the funnest jobs I've ever done. I do miss it, without a doubt."
Gymbal served just one term as governor. He decided not to seek re-election in 2010, but instead ran for his old Assembly seat, Mansill, in southwestern Lial, which he held prior to winning the governorship in 2006. He's the first governor since the 1800's to return to the Assembly after serving in a governorship.
Why did he not run for re-election?
"I really missed working in Mavocke collectively with members from all over the country. I loved being governor, and I do miss it. But I also missed the Assembly, and I hated the nasty partisanship that paralyzes Clothen. It's bad in Mavocke too, of course. But in Clothen, the Nationalist machine is so strong, so much stronger than the Nationalist Party as a whole throughout the country. So I don't miss that part of it," Gymbal said.
He also reflected on his legislative career, and what issues he's focusing on. Prior to 2006, Gymbal championed fiscal and defense issues.
"I'm still going to work on those things, but I'm also going to focus on the environment and particularly on education and civil liberties. When I served as governor, I learned so much about the environment and even more about the education system that is failing in this country. I tried very hard to improve the education system in Lial to help every child succeed and I want to help do that at the national level. And in terms of civil liberties, I think we're seeing a very quick and decisive erosion of them thanks, in large part, to the federal government. And I think someone needs to stand up and take a stand and say, 'enough is enough.'"
When asked why he ran for the National Assembly instead of the more prestigious Senate, Gymbal told the Star Journal that the Senate is too "uppity."
"The Senate, and I mean this with no disrespect to my colleagues in the upper house...but the Senate has a very uppity feel to it. There's a sort of arrogance, I think, to the Senate. And it is the upper house, of course. But the members are elected by the people just like the members of the Assembly. And the atmosphere is just so far from reality in the Senate. I would much rather work in the more down-to-earth Assembly any day. I think members of the Assembly are more in tune with what their constituents want. And I'm a very normal, down-to-earth person. I didn't run for office so I could become an elite and a power-thirsting politician. I ran for office so I could make a difference and be a loud-sounding voice for the common man."
Finally, the Star Journal asked Gymbal about his younger brother Luke, who is a freshman senator from Ansleigha, but recently lost in the Senate reduction lottery as the Senate is reducing the number of members from five per state to four.
"I think Luke is a bright guy and an excellent public servant. He did a great job of representing Ansleigha in the Assembly and then last year he was elected to the Senate in a very close race, but I think he's done a great job in the Senate. And I'm very proud of him. I know he's disappointed he lost in the lottery, and I am too because I think he's a great, effective voice for his state and for the conservative mission. But I'm confident that he will be back, whether it's in 2012 or 2014 or whenever. I think he will be back. I know he's not done serving his state, though in what capacity, I'm not sure."
Luke Gymbal is rumored to be considering a 2012 run against fellow Ansleigha Senator Jan Vanderhoogen, though his office has not confirmed if he will run.
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