Who were the people who stood out in the news of 2009?

For the first time, we need to recognize entire groups of people rather than individuals, and all of them are voters -- or not.

The voters of Ben Avon deserve some recognition for staging an election coup of remarkable proportions. We aren’t sure what message they were trying to send to their government, but the lesson they delivered was that no official should ever take for granted his seat in government.

We also would like to recognize the 150 people who voted for Jerry Walter for Bellevue Council in the borough’s third ward. Not only was Walter’s time on council marked by belligerence and treachery, but he quit. Twice.

Which brings us to the voters in Bellevue’s first ward, who may have created a situation in which the borough loses the most knowledgeable, honest and passionate advocate in the council chambers. Not since Rose Heflin has Bellevue seen as dedicated and principled a representative as Jane Braunlich.

We’re sure few realize that her pursuit of a court resolution to the case of the trunk-bound ballot has nothing to do with being a poor loser, and everything to do with her dedication to following the law.

Plus, thanks to her, every time a government decision is made by coin toss, it will now be known in the North Boroughs as a “Braunlich.”

Our other individual recognition for 2009 goes to Bellevue Police Chief Matt Sentner. For the first time in many, many years we saw Bellevue Police officers obtaining search warrants, arresting drug dealers, and cooperating with regional agencies. We’re still not sure he needs that many officers on the payroll, but at least he’s doing something with them.