Gossip: Fowlkes, Thanatos to Wed

CORUSCANT - Senators Tremaine Fowlkes (Mowgle) and Illanah Thanatos (Chandrila) will be married this month, according to a statement released today by their respective offices. The statement, which announced their heretofore private relationship, came as a surprise even to Coruscant insiders, who have now raised concerns about a potential conflict of interest posed by two spouses serving simultaneously in the Senate. In remarks to the Coruscant Journal, both Senators expressed their confidence that "... we will remain objective, and our marriage will not affect our votes."

Senator Thanatos extended an invitation to all sitting Senators for the wedding, which will be held on the resort world of Alakatha, a popular vacation destination for Coruscant elite. It is rumored that Chief of State Eli Fitzgerald suggested the location, and that he will serve as "best man" at the ceremony (a custom in human weddings), though neither office has confirmed this.

In other Senate gossip, the contest for the Chairmanship of the influential Commerce Council heated up on Thursday, as Representative Drayson Loran (who runs and represents his own shipping corporation) withdrew from consideration, noting that "... the Senate's reasonable concerns about a supposed conflict of interest with [the OSC] would regrettably, but inevitably prevent me from serving as an effective Chairman." It is also believed that Loran is unwilling to surrender his current Chairmanship of the Senate Economics Council.

Chief of State Eli Fitzgerald has announced that he intends to appoint the Commerce Chairman by the end of next month, and is now said to be favoring one of two possible candidates: Senator Luneray Kruus (Neimoidia), or freshman Senator Cambrist (Brentaal). Both represent worlds immersed in galactic trade, and both have expressed interest in the Chairmanship. During his confirmation to the Senate, Cambrist noted that "... [I seek] also to lend my planet's (and my own) trade expertise to the Senate."

Senator Kruus has been comparatively silent on the issue, but this has not stopped Cambrist from ridiculing the Neimoidian regardless, as last week when he belittled Kruus' concern for the safety of New Republic soldiers and crews as "... ironic from a species that encourages its Senate staff to eat one another as punishment for inefficiency." Kruus had remarked previously that life is "the most precious thing in the galaxy."

Stay with the Coruscant Journal for complete coverage of the Fowlkes/Thanatos wedding, and the Commerce Council appointment.