GREEN MOUSE SAYS: Shane Gibson to fill David Duggins' shoes as economic development & redevelopment bag man, with a joyous wetting of beaks to follow.

I good bag man is hard to find.
You always get the other kind.

The Green Mouse just staggered back from the Mad Tax Payers gig at Pastimes and started babbling in Sicilian.

Fortunately we keep one of those spontaneous translation androids on a leash (he knows the combination to the liquor cabinet).

"It makes perfect sense. If the Godfather's only trusted capo screws up and has to get sent away to the NAHA for a while until the scandal blows over, then Tom Hagen's the only man alive who can keep the envelopes stuffed -- and his own mouth clamped shut."

A source tells NA Confidential that city attorney Shane Gibson will replace David Duggins as head of the redevelopment commission, also functioning as the city's economic development director.

This is a rumor, as yet unsubstantiated, but if true, Gibson's income from various sluices will make him the highest paid public official in living memory.

And concurrently, the scandal-plagued Team Gahan's closed circle of circled wagons will get even smaller, proving yet again that when times get harder, there is no prohibition against incest in politics.

Perhaps the mayor is worried that State Representative Ed Clere might enter the 2019 mayor's race after all.

Perhaps Gahan has been watching one too many documentaries about the grandeur of Kim Jong-un's personality cult.

Perhaps they all just need to ensure that the right beaks stay wet. After all, it's what Gahan will be remembered for. Look for the announcement to come on Tuesday, as Deaf is waiting for a sign from the heavens to proceed toward consolidation of his power.

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As an addendum, NA Confidential has been unable to confirm whether New Albany Mayor Jeff M. Gahan or anyone working in the city's administration is under federal investigation or indictment for corruption, bribery or racketeering. It is standard policy of the U.S. Justice Department to refuse to confirm or deny the existence or non-existence of investigations or subjects of investigations. A similar policy exists at the F.B.I.