Letters to the Editor...

The Editor did a good job covering the three-day trial of Bill Galletly. The subsequent editorial clearly showed his personal preferences. That is his choice. However, the one troubling factor and the one that I am always interested in, is how one views the law. The law is where we start and where we finish. It doesn’t matter who your buddy is. It doesn’t matter what your political stance is, nor that you socialize with a public official, nor that you are pleased to have that association. IT IS THE LAW, and until the law is changed, it will be enforced. To try to spin the law or personalize the law or make arguments that you are above the law or not subject to the law, is the continuing problem in Delaware County and for that matter, the rest of the world. Adherence to the law and the enforcement thereof, create the framework within which we interact in a peaceful way despite deep and even bitter differences of opinion. Disagreement is contained within that framework. Once we go, in our actions or in our arguments, outside the law, then we lose direction, control, and civilization and, as we see in other countries, violence replaces law. What is terrorism but the rejection of law and the blind devotion to a leader? In this country, public officials have a higher duty to obey the law. They are in a position of leading and supervising others. Therefore, from them much is expected. If the manager violates the law, can his employees violate the law? At what point is credibility lost?
For example, THE GROVE SUN DAILY this week published a letter from their sole and exclusive designated writer of Letters to the Editor, William Miller, in which he actually stated the following: ". . . METHODS INCLUDED TAKING CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE CITY STAFF TO COURT FOR FAILURE TO PRODUCE REQUESTED DOCUMENTS, COURT EFFORTS PERTAINING TO VIOLATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS. THEY ALSO FILED COMPLAINTS WITH THE POLICE, PERTAINING TO SPLITTING OF CONTRACTS . . ."
Gad !! All of these things cited in the Letter constitute the LAW !! And, as the court decided, one of these actions resulted in a criminal conviction !!
When you follow a leader and not the law and when you defend violations of the law, you are not leading the City into the 21st Century. You are leading it into the 16th Century. A statement that "A SMALL GROUP OF MALCONTENTS WHO ARE USING THE LAW TO TRY TO GET THEIR WAY" is beyond comprehension. The LAW is what we all rely on to make sure that no one gets their way; only the law gets its way. Freedom and democracy demand oversight, criticism, and scrutiny of all public officials at all levels.
The statement by The Editor that "GALLETLY JUST WANTS TO FINISH OUT HIS CAREER AND RETIRE IN 16 MONTHS" might be true, but it has no relevance to the law. In our system, politicians are not appointed for life other than in the Federal Court system, nor do they get what they want, the citizens get what they want. If "BOO-BIRDS WANT HIM GONE", the only avenue they have is the law, which includes elections. Opposing sitting Council members is a right given by law. It does not take away the ballot box. The next election is in April, 2007. At that time, representatives of the citizens of Grove will once more be elected or re-elected. They then will make the decision to hire or fire any City Manager. If you happen to know him/her, socialize with him/her, or enjoy identifying with him/her, that is fine but it has nothing to do with the law.
In conclusion, one cautionary consideration: Apologists for lawbreaking are wrong, but they suffer no legal consequence unless they hold public office. If they hold public office and knowingly support or even endorse lawbreakers or fail to distance themselves from lawbreakers, they are exposed to financial and/or criminal liability for the consequences of the lawbreaking. Wake up!! Beware!! The Metcalf ruling in Federal Court is what is going to happen in District Court in Delaware County, as well.
Jack L. Forrest

(Editors Note: THE LAW includes a process which provides for appeal to a higher court; more than one decision in Delaware County has been appealed and reversed, overturned, or remanded for another trial. Mr. Galletly is entitled to use the appeals process BECAUSE IT IS THE LAW.
Of course if one has his mind made up on the guilt of Mr. Galletly before, during or since the trial, or before the Appeals Process has a chance to work, there is no need for discussion because that person has not given THE LAW a chance to perform.
There are no local editorials in the other area publications...either they publish nothing, or subscribe to a national news service written by people with no relationship to Grove.
He who offends no one, pleases no one.)