Coda
At least, the mayor always kept everything interestin'
Greg Bean

There's a wonderful scene in Larry McMurtry's great American novel "Lonesome Dove" when former Texas Rangers Woodrow Call and Gus McCrae are discussing the inexorable march of time. They've just ridden into San Antonio, Texas, and the place is much different from the raucous frontier town they remember.

"Things sure have changed since the last time I was here," Call says. "It's all growed up."

"Of course it's growed up, Woodrow," Gus replies. "We killed all the Indians and bandits so the bankers could move in."

"Only a fool would want the Indians back," Woodrow says.

Gus is incredulous. "Has it ever occurred to you, Woodrow, that all the work we done was for the bankers?" he asks. "Hell, we killed off everybody made this country interestin'!"

I thought about that fine conversation this week as I was reading the front page story in Greater Media's publication, the Independent, about the exit of longtime Keyport Mayor John Merla from public office. After more than two decades as an elected official, Merla, who beat one corruption charge in 1993 and is currently awaiting trial (so far, the trial has been postponed five times) on a raft of others, stepped down as mayor of his hometown Jan. 1.

FILE PHOTOS A young Keyport Councilman John Merla braves the cold to point out a group of troublesome pigeons atop the old Bucket of Blood, a lower Broad Street bar. This photo originally appeared in the Independent in January 1988. Below, a pensive Councilman Merla of the same period contemplates the problems facing the borough.

Early on, Merla toyed with the idea of running for re-election in spite of his legal difficulties, and he might have won, but in the end he wisely decided against it. As of the first of the year, the mayor's seat will be held by another longtime Keyporter, Councilman Robert Bergen.

The Dec. 28 story about his leave-taking, written by reporter Karen Bowes, is one of the best stories we've had in our papers for a long time, and if you don't get the Independent, I suggest you check it out online at our Web site, www.gmnews.com. It's great reading, and it recounts his long history of community involvement, as well as his "troubles."

Over the last couple of years, I've had a lot of fun with John Merla in this column (he's been the focus of four or five columns, at least), and in return, Merla has slugged back. He's expressed his dislike of, and displeasure with me in letters to the editor and in conversations with various reporters and editors. Although we've never met in person, our relationship has not been particularly cordial.

Ever the optimist, he's convinced he'll be acquitted of the charges against him, and he's made vague promises about some sort of accounting between us when it's over.

I don't share that optimism (if he is acquitted, I'll have to eat a lot of stringy crow), but the fact remains that Merla has been a part of my professional life since the day I began as executive editor of this newspaper chain in 1993. He'd already been Keyport's mayor for three years at that time, and one of the first stories I edited when I came here was written about Merla by reporter Lauren Jaeger. There have been many, many stories about him since (remember the controversy over the fireman's coat, John?), and we've been like a bee in his blanket.

Still, I think it might surprise some people when I say I'm gonna miss him when he's gone.

I've disagreed with a lot that John Merla has done and said over the years, and I argued that he should have stepped down as mayor a long time ago. But the fact is, he's given me and the reporters for the Independent a wealth of material to write about in my 14 years with this company and - unlike some of the pedantic, ego-inflated peacocks in other towns we cover - he's always been interestin'.

So thanks for the memories, John, and thanks for the good copy. I just hope the "bankers" who replace you aren't completely boring. As a politician, you were many things (the word "colorful" springs to mind, along with a few less complimentary terms), but you were never, ever boring.

There are worse things you can say about a man.

Gregory Bean is executive editor of Greater Media Newspapers. You can reach him at gbean@gmnews.com.