Mayor Johnson Defends Choosing Pastor for RTA Position: “A Cleric is Important for Party Balance”
CHICAGO — Last week the City Council voted on the appointments of several new board members selected by Mayor Brandon Johnson for the Regional Transit Authority board. Four of Mayor Johnson’s choices were approved, but the nomination of a Pastor with no prior public transit experience was rejected. Mayor Johnson has since defended this nomination, explaining that a good cleric is key to party balance for healing, buffs, and class advantages against undead and fiend-type monsters.
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“When I look at the RTA board, I’m seeing a lot of martial classes and a couple high-damage casters,” said Mayor Johnson to reporters following the decision. “There’s no one on the board with healing spells or any decent crowd control spells, so I guess good luck if they encounter a horde of zombies!”
Mayor Johnson’s pick, Jarixon Medina, is a pastor at New Life Covenant Church in Humboldt Park. He expressed surprise that Mayor Johnson had nominated him, but was disappointed with the council’s decision.
“When Mayor Johnson told me he was looking for a level 17 life domain cleric, I didn’t know what he was talking about,” said Medina, “but I think I would have offered the perspective of the people in my neighborhood who take transit every day. Would have been a cool adventure. Mayor Johnson said I’d get a mace!”
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While City Council members expressed their doubts about someone with no experience in the inner-workings of running a public transit network, transit experts have said the Mayor has some points.
“Like any team, a transit advisory board needs a wide spread of skill sets to properly run and gain XP,” said Larry Gynax, a district manager for Minneapolis’s Metro Transit. “When you look at the other nominees you have Nora Kay Ryan, solid ranger build, Mondero and Kotarac, two barbarians, and Jenkins, an attorney.”
“What if the CTA has to deal with vampires? These are things you really need to consider.”
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The vote against Medina’s appointment is the second attempt by Mayor Johnson to nominate a church leader with no prior experience in transit, but experience wielding divine magic and proficiency in light and medium armor and shields. In May, pastor Ira J. Acree withdrew his candidacy after facing a difficult preliminary hearing.
“I thought they had some points that I wasn’t informed enough to fill the role,” said Acree, “plus those meetings are a pain in the ass to organize.”
