The county has a direct financial stake, because it is responsible for the agency's $256 million debt.

Employees have been able to take a direct stake in the newly privatised companies.

"The guards' union provides the line staff, and so they have a direct stake in a bigger prison system."

But because they have no direct financial stake in their government, many of the state's voters are relatively indifferent to its pursuits.

As the incumbents with the most direct stake in the institution, they'd still be a power.

So why should anyone without a direct financial stake be interested in its troubles?

By October 1970, these companies had invested $43.7 million, through direct stakes or as loans.

Such a direct stake in the case by every potential juror required a change of venue, they argued.

But it would give ordinary citizens a direct stake in the success of reform.

After all, he has had a direct stake in this fight; four times the terrorists have tried to kill him.