The hydra purportedly was slain by Hercules as the second of the demigod's 12 labors, but it seems it was mistakenly identified as the hero's victim through a mistranslation of the original Greek. The hydra, being from Lenoir City, is the Lenoirian Hydra, whereas the thing that Hercules slew is now thought to have been the Lernaean Hydrangea.
The Lenoirian Hydra was happy to answer questions about its many roles in several governments. It turns out that its heads do double or even triple public service.
The hydra's head named Antonio, for instance, serves as Lenoir City mayor, chief deputy for Loudon County and chairman of the Lenoir City Utilities Board, drawing pay for all three positions totaling about $69,000 per year. Antonio doesn't view his three government salaries as triple-dipping from taxpayers.
"My service in several different publicly funded positions benefits taxpayers; I'm multitasking to maximize government efficiency," he explained. "Like most Loudon Countians — who approve of the job I'm doing, by the way — I oppose big government. That's why it's critical to have one hydra head working assorted government roles, which cuts down on overhead, too."
Hydra heads Robby, Robby Jr., Billy, Biddy, Rosemarie, Teddy, Early, Ritchie, Stevie, Harry, Briana, Penny and Kimmy all hold two or more taxpayer-funded positions in Loudon County or Lenoir City. The heads agreed that their overlapping taxpayer salaries maximize efficiency. No noggins saw any conflict in holding sundry government billets.
Head Teddy, who works for Loudon County and holds a seat on the Lenoir City Council and LCUB, noted that the hydra's father, Smaug, served as the government of the Lonely Mountain region for many generations, maximizing government to its most efficient.
"Daddy was mayor, sheriff, judge, jury and executioner," he said. "Whatever ostensible conflicts of interest he may have presented by consolidating all government powers unto himself, he more than made up for by efficiently discharging his duties — especially that of executioner."
Head Rosemarie, who was just elected to the Loudon County Commission and serves as chairperson of the Lenoir City school board, sees benefits to the same noodle serving different government entities.
"School board Chair Rosemarie can help Commissioner Rosemarie better understand school issues," she explained. "Plus, if any conflict of interest arises, we can resolve it internally, so externally, Rosemarie can smile a little smile for thee."