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This is a rebuttal to Councilman John Leaver’s July 15 letter, which contained egregious falsehoods about Bill Bruch, a Republican candidate for a Legislative District 10 House seat.

Bruch never managed the Pier 7 building in his role as a professional property manager. Leaver must be referring to the Lime Dock, which years ago had a tenant who ignored the lease terms, caused damage to the building, quit paying rent and had to be evicted.

Leaver’s account of the sheriff being called on Bruch is a false story likely concocted by an angry, vindictive tenant.

In his business, Bruch must balance the rights of property owners and the rights of tenants. When a contract is violated, Bruch is expected to remedy the situation. When the remedy is an eviction process, it is never pleasant. Bruch’s ability to keep a cool head in hot situations will be valuable in the state legislature.

While Leaver has no recollection of Bruch’s role on the Town Council, I certainly remember his service. So does the Association of Washington Cities, which presented Bruch with an award for leadership.

In 2017, Bruch honorably stepped down from his elected position when he had to move outside the town limits for his job. He was able to move back into town before his term ended, but his council seat had already been filled by appointment.

Bruch grew up in Washington and has lived in Skagit County – mostly in the Town of La Conner – for more than 20 years.

I understand that Leaver, who hails from New York, dislikes his fellow New Yorker, President Trump. But should that justify a slanderous, unhinged, partisan attack on a decent local man?

Councilman Leaver was elected to a non-partisan position, ostensibly to serve all La Conner residents. Yet he deployed the radical left’s hellish tactic to destroy someone over political differences with his unfounded assault on Bill Bruch’s character.

I think La Conner people will see through the nasty politicking and realize that Bruch will serve us well in Olympia.

Sandy Stokes

La Conner

(Full disclosure: Stokes is Bruch’s campaign manger. – ed.)