Editor:

No matter what she does it seems like Jane Braunlich can't win in Bellevue this year. Today I write in response to Virginia Miranda's letter printed on Dec. 11.

Miranda wrote, "I've always been a rule obeyer, which has definitely annoyed more people than I can count." Hmmmm. I'd say Jane Braunlich is a kindred spirit. People who attended Bellevue Council meetings in the past year where Dave Gillingham and friends would roll their eyes and fume as Jane Braunlich pointed out that our law, Bellevue's home rule charter, was being ignored, will realize that.

"Whichever way this council seat is resolved, it should be via the rule of law." I agree with those additional words from Ms. Miranda's letter. Our courts should see that Pennsylvania law is followed consistently in all of our elections. Let's clean out the “junk in the trunk” and agree on this point, too: the person who failed to follow the law caused this mess. "Judge of Election," indeed. On Nov. 3 Mary Miklos demonstrated her inability to do that job in Bellevue Ward 1. She should resign before the next election.

After the drawing of lots where Braunlich's opponent Dave Piet drew the better number, council member Dave Gillingham was heard trumpeting around the borough building, "We won!" Gillingham, in his position as Bellevue GOP chair, has since complained about Braunlich's legal appeal. From everything I've seen, Mr. Piet seems like a decent fellow. Sadly, he may not yet realize what expectation he'll be under to go along with the entrenched and increasingly well-orchestrated political "We" in this town.

Assuming the appellate court keeps the election result as it now stands, I wish Dave Piet well. He would do well to study Bellevue's home rule charter. He'll need intelligence, courage and moral integrity to act as a responsible council member when he casts his votes. Jane Braunlich consistently demonstrated those qualities and she was widely demonized for it!

Carol A. Wivell
Bellevue