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THE RETURN OF RETOS - 2007’s Kingmaker
December 21, 2007
Washington-Washington County’s newest kingmaker for 2007 is none other than former political powerhouse George Retos. Retos has been in political exile for years since his felony conviction.
The irony of Retos return and choice as our kingmaker is his support for a series of reform candidates. While one could argue that Retos was just intelligent and moved where the wind was blowing, Retos was on board with many of the candidates early on.
From his support for District Attorney-Elect Steve Toprani to his involvement in the Washington City Council race to his efforts to unseat Milan Marinkovich, Retos was in the backdrop of every major political story in Washington County.
But Retos the reformer? it is a strange sound to many veteran political observers in the county. Retos, the consumate insider, was turned into an outsider by his prison sentence. Now as the years have passed and the memories fade, Retos has been rehabilitated.
The real test of his new found power and clout will be in the decision of the city of Washington’s solicitor position. If his allies, the Keranko and Jefferies law firm gain the position of city solicitor. If Sonny Spossey maintains control and gives Pat Smider the position, Retos will have been rebuffed openly. It would signal a retreat back for increasing influence of the once powerful power broker.
Regardless, Retos has proven that if you wait long enough, every gains a comeback. Retos replaces 2006 Kingmaker Ray Bologna, who failed miserably in attempting to keep his ally John Pettit in the District Attorney’s office.
