There will be two candidates on the May 19 primary ballot for the Democratic party's nomination for mayor of Bellevue. Voters will choose between incumbent George Doscher and challenger Mike Braunlich.

Doscher, who has lived in Bellevue for 52 years, says that he is at a time in his life when he wants to give back to the community. He was involved with the Bellevue Planning Commission, served one term as a member of council and is finishing his first term as mayor of Bellevue.

He also does volunteer work for North Hills Community Outreach (NHCO), helping out with its Mini-Masters Miniature Golf Tournament. He is on NHCO's steering committee, and the Patient Safety Committee for Select Specialty Hospital at Allegheny General Hospital - Suburban Campus.

Doscher said that he has enjoyed his first term as mayor. "I like the people I work with on council," he said.

Which has not stopped the mayor from taking some strong stands when he felt it was necessary. Two years ago, he vetoed council's budget, leaving the borough unable to spend funds for anything but emergencies until February. He then excluded council from the decision-making process in the selection of a new police chief.

Under the borough's home rule charter, the mayor's duties are limited to supervision of the police department and the development and presentation of a budget for the borough, which then is revised and approved by council.

Doscher also believes that progress has been made with Bellevue's police department. "Ultimately, the mayor deals primarily with the police department, and we are making strides with the police department," he said.

Doscher said that they have put computers in all of the police cars, updated the software used by the department and upgraded some of the equipment as well. He also mentioned Bellevue's participation in the District Attorney's Narcotics Enforcement Team (DANET), and the West Hills DUI task force.

He has been a strong proponent of hiring more police officers, something with which his primary opponent disagrees.

"I just think there is too many for our size borough," Braunlich said.

Braunlich also would like to see a different employment of the current officers that would allow for a beat cop on Lincoln Avenue, something Doscher said is not possible with the current manpower.

Braunlich also is not impressed with the current mayor's budgeting skills, pointing to what he termed the "fiasco" of last year's budget, in which the spending plan presented to council by the mayor boasted a surplus of $1.7 million, when the budget actually was some $200,000 in the red.

Doscher said that he knew there was an error in the budget, but because of a deadline set by the borough's home rule charter, he had to present the budget to council. He said that he thought the error would be found faster with more eyes looking for it.

Braunlich, who has been a resident of Bellevue for 15 years, says that he thinks the major problem facing the borough is its budget. He said that he does not believe that the current mayor has the residents in mind when it comes to spending.

"I don't think that we are getting our money's worth out of the budget," he said. Braunlich also said that he would like to see the residents of Bellevue receive a tax break.

Doscher said that a major issue facing Bellevue right now is a stagnant economic base.

"We have to be very careful with the budgets and keep our nose to the grindstone," he said. He said that he is concerned about Bellevue's business district, and said that he wants to make sure that doing business in Bellevue is a pleasurable experience, rather than one that might scare away businesses.

"I don't feel that its unpleasant now," Doscher said, however, "We should make it as easy as possible for businesses to survive and thrive."

Both candidates agree that shared services are a critical goal for the future.

Doscher said he would like to accomplish a consolidation of the Bellevue and Avalon police departments in his next term. "We are closer now than ever," Doscher said.

Braunlich's merger plans are bigger and broader. He would like to see the boroughs of Bellevue, Avalon, Ben Avon and Emsworth share a number of municipal services at a cost savings for all.

"Our people are paying way to much for services," he said.

Doscher went through grade school and high school in Bellevue and spent one year at Clarion before joining the workforce. He works as a sales representative for Kinetic Concepts, Inc. (KCI), a medical technology company, where he has worked for more than 20 years.

Doscher and his wife of 18 years, Barbara, have two children, Connor, 15, and Jesse, who is 13 years old.

Braunlich has been a roofer for 37 years, and a member of Roofers Union #37 for 15 years. He and his wife Jane, who is a member of Bellevue Council, have four children, all of whom have graduated from Northgate High School.

Braunlich said that he volunteers for Bellevue Avalon Girls Athletic Association (BAGAA). He also has been a chaperone for various activities at Northgate. He has been an active member of the Allegheny County Democratic Committee for the past 10 years.