WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP (Gloucester) - Life has its "ups and downs" is how one official put it at a recent council meeting regarding Richard Bennett.

For Bennett, this has been one of those "down" periods when it comes to the council.

Bennett has resigned his council seat shortly after being changed with harassment and forgery by township police.

Bennett's resignation was announced last week with council members saying it was in the best interest of himself and the township.

The now-former councilman's problems had their roots with the board of education.

Back in May, school board members Connie Baker and Patricia Blome received insulting letters. They were unsigned, but the return address on each letter was that of Julie Kozempel, the board of education president.

The letters, among other things, called the women stupid and evil and warned them that, "God is watching."

The board members knew Kozempel did not send them nasty letters, so they went to police and an investigation began.

That led to a post office video showing Bennett mailing the letters.

He was then criminally charged.

Bennett at first told some media outlets that he knew nothing about the letters.

But he didn't attend the next council meeting and now he is gone from the all-Republican council.

At Monday's meeting, his one time colleagues praised Bennett for his work with historic preservation, the Boy Scouts and the town's senior citizen community.

In general, many school boards these days have become incredibly polarized over such issues as curriculum, gay rights and library books. It is what some call the culture wars.

Bennett just became a casualty.