In light of the recent turbulence in Cinniapolis, Chess Murphy gave an exclusive interview to the Cinniapolis Chorus Investigative Team (CCIT). As the Chairman of both Murphy Waste Management and Murphy Construction, Mr. Murphy believes new leadership is needed immediately to usher Cinniapolis into brighter days. He sat down with our team at Fowler Chophouse, located on the ground floor of The Great Eastern Hotel. Mr. Murphy invited CCIT to dine with him and discuss his plan for the future of Cinniapolis (Editor’s note: CCIT did not accept any drinks or food from Mr. Murphy).

Mr. Murphy: Let’s get started then, shall we? Thank you for meeting with me and giving me a traditional platform to speak. I wanted to talk with you today to communicate the danger this city is facing each day that Preston Gondola continues as Mayor. I am publicly challenging Preston Gondola and his administration to authorize and execute a special election for the Mayor of Cinniapolis. This city cannot wait until 2024 for the next election. Every day Preston is in charge, is a public emergency.

CCIT: Do you expect a response from the City Council?

Mr. Murphy: Considering their nearly complete radio silence on recent events, I do not.

CCIT: Then why call us here for this interview?

Mr. Murphy: Well, it’s not enough to only hold protests or rallies in defiance of inept leadership. I want to be on the record for my city and our people. I will not rest until Cinniapolis is a place of pride again. Right now, it’s a shameful place to call home.

CCIT: In the past, you’ve referred to Mayor Gondola as the boyking, among other derogatory nicknames. Is this the type of antagonistic discourse Cinniapolitans can expect from you and your allies going forward?

Mr. Murphy: I do regret some of the hostilities that take over my vocabulary sometimes. But, I don’t take them back and I can’t say they’ll be gone forever. But, I’m making a conscious effort to practice civility.

CCIT: Is that decision in light of the violence following the Freedom Forever Rally?

Mr. Murphy: It is not. It is a personal decision to detach emotions from the discussion. People need to hear about the issues and that can be difficult combing through personal insults, even if they’re true. Regarding the violence after our successful, peaceful rally, it’s now clear that this was a fringe criminal organization using our passion for the city as a cover to destroy our city.

CCIT: Can you please elaborate on that response?

Mr. Murphy: Look, it’s no secret Mayor Gondola was gifted everything in his life. His father, Van, was the last great politician in this city. But, he made a big mistake appointing Preston to replace him as Mayor when he stepped down. Preston was unprepared, careless, and is swayed too easily by the almighty dollar. Now, there is this criminal group calling themselves Private Citizens that are specifically targeting everything Cinniapolitans value.

CCIT: How is Mr.Gondola’s path to Mayor different from your rise to Chairman of the Board for the Murphy businesses?

Mr. Murphy: It’s quite different. I came up through the family business without any handouts. I worked 50-60 hour weeks, 7 days a week, holidays, to ascend to an executive level. I was never appointed to any position, like Preston.

CCIT: And you don’t think your last name helped you? Or being an heir of the founder helped?

Mr. Murphy: I don’t. If my last name was Zucchini, I’d still be Chairman of the Board. It’s my work ethic and dedication that makes me a good leader. I know it and everyone I’ve worked with knows it.

CCIT: You’ve mentioned a special election in public and to us earlier, are you declaring your candidacy for election, should such an event take place?

Mr. Murphy: I would certainly considerate it. When I lost the 2016 election, the city was still very loyal to the Gondolas. Giovanni had recently stepped down and appointed Preston as the Mayor. The election was only a few weeks after and my margin of defeat was large due to nostalgia votes for the Gondolas. Now, 6 years later, the tide has turned. Crime runs the city and Mayor Gondola’s response was to disband our police force. Mayor Gondola is not only tarnishing the reputation of Cinniapolis, he is ruining his family’s legacy with failed policies and out of touch legislation that caters to the rich.

CCIT: How would you handle the rising crime?

Mr. Murphy: I would reinstall our police force. Look, the CSD would be a good supplemental branch of law enforcement. It is important to cooperate with communities. But, it’s more important to keep those communities safe. And, admittedly there are no safe spaces in Cinniapolis any longer. Even if you are livestock. It’s ridiculous and unacceptable.

CCIT: What are your next steps towards a special election?

Mr. Murphy: I’ll continue to meet with business leaders and Cinniapolitans to get their support. I believe Mayor Gondola will have no choice but to accept the will of Cinniapolis and agree to a special election. We are not demanding he step down, we are not threatening him to step down, we are simply calling for a fair chance to replace him. Perhaps he will crawl out of whatever hole he’s in and step up to this challenge.

Mr. Murphy informed us he has meetings scheduled with other prominent Cinniapolis business owners and plans to present his case for a special election in the upcoming weeks.