CLEVEY SPRINGS, Harvannah--Just over three months into his tenure, Conservative Gov. George Garesby has set out on an ambitious agenda: to improve Harvannah's economy, restructure the state's education system, fix the state's ailing transportation infrastructure, better-serve rural counties that are often ignored, and embrace and integrate the citizens of Kilgore Island, which Harvannah annexed in 2010.
At his side is Harvannah's Lieutenant Governor, Nationalist Mia Xhi, who won a second term in 2012.
So far, the governor and his deputy seem to be getting along okay. Publicly, that is.
But privately, aides to both Garesby and Xhi (pronounced "she") say the two struggle to work together.
"It's not that he (Garesby) doesn't like her as a person (Xhi) or appreciate her as a colleague. He does. But he has reached out in bipartisanship and she has really shot down every attempt he's made," an aide to the governor, who asked not be identified because he was speaking without permission, told the Clevey Springs Dome-Observer.
Similarly, an aide to Xhi told the Dome-Observer the lieutenant governor considers Garesby to be a nice person, but will not compromise when it comes to hot-button political issues.
"She does think he is a nice guy, but she refuses to work with him because they just have two very different visions, and let's face it, she'd rather be working with Mark Andres, who she agreed with 99 percent of the time," the aide, who also was not authorized to speak to the media, told the paper.
In a candid interview with the Harlyne Sun newspaper, Garesby told reporter Michael Dallion that he respects Xhi but has not received a warm reception.
"I really do respect her as a public official. She is a pioneer for women in this state, in terms of holding of office and being a leader in Clevey Springs. But I have tried to reach out and tried to find some common ground, and tried to cultivate a healthy, bipartisan, friendly relationship, and I just don't feel like that attempt at camaraderie and cooperation has been returned," Garesby said.
In a separate interview with the Sun, Xhi said the two leaders have "real differences" when it comes to the issues, and maintained she doesn't have a problem with Garesby as a person, but she "strongly disagrees" with his political philosophy.
"I don't have a problem sitting next to George Garesby at a luncheon or a political function. I don't have a problem sitting down with him in the governor's office and talking. But I do have a real issue with his political positions and his ultra-conservative agenda that he is attempting to push through. And I can't cooperate with something that is so strongly against my beliefs as a woman, as an Asian-Grassadellian, as an independent, free-thinking person that values civil rights," said Xhi.
When asked if his relationship with Xhi is "icy," by reporter Michael Dallion, Garesby replied, "I wouldn't say icy, but she hasn't been real warm."
Xhi told the Sun, "I respect his authority as governor, and I respect the will of the voters, as they elected him. But I do not respect his positions. We stand very far apart on the political spectrum, and I don't think holding hands and singing 'kumbayah' together is going to change that fact."
But both say they are working on improving their relationship.
"I have reached out, and I'm going to continue to reach out to Mia, because I think the people of Harvannah sent me to Clevey Springs to foster cooperation and team-work and bipartisanship. We had a very strong dose of partisanship in the last administration, and I'm determined to weed that out of Clevey Springs," Garesby said.
Xhi said the two are working on finding common ground.
"We are working together to find areas where we can agree. There aren't very many of them, but we are working to find commonalities on veterans' issues, environmental protection issues, protecting children, improving literacy. So there are some areas where we can work together despite our differences."
Xhi is widely seen as a possible NAT candidate for governor in the 2016 election. It's possible she could challenge Garesby, although she has declined to say whether she is considering a future bid.
At his side is Harvannah's Lieutenant Governor, Nationalist Mia Xhi, who won a second term in 2012.
So far, the governor and his deputy seem to be getting along okay. Publicly, that is.
But privately, aides to both Garesby and Xhi (pronounced "she") say the two struggle to work together.
"It's not that he (Garesby) doesn't like her as a person (Xhi) or appreciate her as a colleague. He does. But he has reached out in bipartisanship and she has really shot down every attempt he's made," an aide to the governor, who asked not be identified because he was speaking without permission, told the Clevey Springs Dome-Observer.
Similarly, an aide to Xhi told the Dome-Observer the lieutenant governor considers Garesby to be a nice person, but will not compromise when it comes to hot-button political issues.
"She does think he is a nice guy, but she refuses to work with him because they just have two very different visions, and let's face it, she'd rather be working with Mark Andres, who she agreed with 99 percent of the time," the aide, who also was not authorized to speak to the media, told the paper.
In a candid interview with the Harlyne Sun newspaper, Garesby told reporter Michael Dallion that he respects Xhi but has not received a warm reception.
"I really do respect her as a public official. She is a pioneer for women in this state, in terms of holding of office and being a leader in Clevey Springs. But I have tried to reach out and tried to find some common ground, and tried to cultivate a healthy, bipartisan, friendly relationship, and I just don't feel like that attempt at camaraderie and cooperation has been returned," Garesby said.
In a separate interview with the Sun, Xhi said the two leaders have "real differences" when it comes to the issues, and maintained she doesn't have a problem with Garesby as a person, but she "strongly disagrees" with his political philosophy.
"I don't have a problem sitting next to George Garesby at a luncheon or a political function. I don't have a problem sitting down with him in the governor's office and talking. But I do have a real issue with his political positions and his ultra-conservative agenda that he is attempting to push through. And I can't cooperate with something that is so strongly against my beliefs as a woman, as an Asian-Grassadellian, as an independent, free-thinking person that values civil rights," said Xhi.
When asked if his relationship with Xhi is "icy," by reporter Michael Dallion, Garesby replied, "I wouldn't say icy, but she hasn't been real warm."
Xhi told the Sun, "I respect his authority as governor, and I respect the will of the voters, as they elected him. But I do not respect his positions. We stand very far apart on the political spectrum, and I don't think holding hands and singing 'kumbayah' together is going to change that fact."
But both say they are working on improving their relationship.
"I have reached out, and I'm going to continue to reach out to Mia, because I think the people of Harvannah sent me to Clevey Springs to foster cooperation and team-work and bipartisanship. We had a very strong dose of partisanship in the last administration, and I'm determined to weed that out of Clevey Springs," Garesby said.
Xhi said the two are working on finding common ground.
"We are working together to find areas where we can agree. There aren't very many of them, but we are working to find commonalities on veterans' issues, environmental protection issues, protecting children, improving literacy. So there are some areas where we can work together despite our differences."
Xhi is widely seen as a possible NAT candidate for governor in the 2016 election. It's possible she could challenge Garesby, although she has declined to say whether she is considering a future bid.
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