Ghostbusters The Return by Sholly Fisch Page B

- that's the bottom line. As long as the safety of this city is threatened, someone's going to have to put himself on the line to protect it. That battle needs to be fought right here in the streets, and it needs to be fought from the highest offices in City Hall, too."

    The Mayor smiled to himself. Venkman had indeed managed to find a way to bring this around to a plug for him. As tenuous as the link might have been, Venkman did it in a way that probably didn't sound too terribly strained. He still wasn't pleased about signing that lousy contract business they'd pulled, but maybe the deal was beginning to pay dividends after all.

    Lapinski started to take a step forward to rejoin Venkman at the mike.

    "That's why," Venkman told the reporters, "I've decided to run for the office of Mayor of the greatest city in the world, that tarnished but beautiful lady - New York City!"

    The crowd exploded into chaos. There was a roar of noise as two dozen reporters shouted out questions at the same time. Flashbulbs were popping all over the place. With no warning whatsoever, a routine press conference had erupted into a major scoop.

    The Mayor's jaw dropped. What did Venkman think he was doing?!

    "Doctor Venkman!" shouted one of the reporters. "When did you declare your candidacy?"

    "Just now," he replied with a smile. "Weren't you paying attention?"

    "Doctor Venkman!" yelled another. "What ticket are you running on?"

    "The New York State Independent Party, along with my good friend and future deputy mayor, Winston Zeddemore." There was another flurry of flashbulbs as Winston waved, a little awkwardly, to the cameras.

    "How do you stand on public transportation?"

    "Well, usually, I hold the pole in my left hand," Venkman said, "To keep me steady when the train stops."

    "Do you think you can win?"

    "I wouldn't be doing this if I thought I'd lose."

    Venkman gestured for the newspeople to settle down, and put his sincere face back on. "Let's get serious here for a minute, people. Yes, I am a candidate for Mayor, and yes, I am planning to win. I think the people of this fine city are tired of putting up with the same old political machine. I think they're ready for new blood and a new attitude. I think they're ready for someone who won't play politics - who'll do what it takes to get the job done."

    "Doctor Venkman!"

    "Doctor Venkman!"

    The Mayor finally managed to push his way to the front and place himself between Venkman and the crowd. He forced a smile. "Sorry, boys. That's all we have time for."

    "Gee, I can hang out for a while," said Venkman. "I don't have anywhere to go."

    Lapinski turned toward him, the forced smile still on his lips. But his eyes weren't smiling. "Some of us have cities to run. And some of us should be off chasing ghosts."

    "Mister Mayor!" called one of the reporters. "How do you feel about Doctor Venkman's candidacy?"

    "Well, boys, I always enjoy a little competition. Maybe one of these days, I'll find some."

    The reporters chuckled appreciatively.

    "I'm always in favor of people trying to improve themselves. Unfortunately, I think Doctor Venkman will find that the people of New York are smart enough to value the voice of experience... and a mayor who knows what he's doing. You can't fix the school board with a ray gun."

    "Still," he continued, "That's one of the great things about America - anyone can run for office, no matter how unqualified they are. I'll offer Doctor Venkman my deepest condolences later, after the voters have spoken. But in the meantime, at least, it looks like we've got us a horse race!"

    Lapinski shook Venkman's hand for the cameras. As the photographers snapped away, capturing the moment for posterity, he muttered under his breath, "I'll break you for this."

    "Arnie," Venkman muttered back, "did anyone ever tell you that you're cute when you're desperate?"

    "He announced?! How could he announce?" Ted Golden paced back and forth in Milken's richly paneled office,