Longtime friend of Mayor Brainard astonished at recent accusations against Mayor Brainard

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Editor’s note: The following letter was written to Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard. It is published in The Reporter with permission from the author.

I was astonished to hear that Christine Pauley is making accusations against you.

This is because I remember distinctly when you and Christine visited Cleveland on March 11, 12 and 13 of 2016. She was scouting out locations for her daughter’s wedding and told me that she invited you to accompany her on the drive.

We all had a nice dinner together and everybody seemed to get along fine. Then you and I spent time together catching up while she made her rounds. Then she picked you up later to drive back to Carmel.

When she did so she kept talking about wanting to take you to some kind of wine tasting at a winery on the way back.

Later, at your urging, I was able to help her arrange her daughter’s wedding reception at the exclusive Hillbrook Club in Chagrin Falls.

Based on what I saw back in 2016, Christine seemed to be having a great time and welcomed the opportunity to spend time with you.

Sincerely,

Mark Filippell

Shaker Heights, Ohio