1/11/06: Urge Monona Council To Ok Vote On Bringing Troops Home - Joy and Steve First

Joy First is a member of WNPJ member group National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance

Urge Monona Council To Ok Vote On Bringing Troops Home

The Capital Times :: EDITORIAL :: 7A
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Joy and Steve First Monona

Dear Editor: Over a period of six weeks, 25 volunteers gathered more than 570 signatures in the city of Monona to put a referendum on the ballot in April seeking to bring the troops home from Iraq.

Because the referendum was worded as a question rather than a statement, city officials deemed the petitions insufficient. The original petition said "Should the United States bring all military personnel home from Iraq now?" We amended the petition as provided for by state law to a statement and it still was not certified by the city. The amended petition said "Resolved -- The United States should bring all military personnel home from Iraq now."

The city attorney argues that the amended petition has a substantially different meaning than the original petition, but we disagree. Whether you vote yes or no for either one, the meaning is the same.

There will be 27 other municipalities in Wisconsin voting on this issue in April. Several of these municipalities had the same wording, amended it, and the petitions were accepted. We do not want to see our right to speak out against the war taken away because of a technicality.

One possible solution is to have the City Council pass a resolution to put the referendum on the ballot. Councilman Doug Woods agrees that Monona residents should have the opportunity to vote on this and will be proposing a resolution to get this on the ballot at the Monona City Council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 17.

Monona residents who signed the petition overwhelmingly were relieved to finally have a way to express their disapproval of President Bush's policies regarding the war. Monona residents want the right to vote on this important issue.

Monona residents, please contact your council members, and come to the council meeting on Tuesday and express your views to the City Council. Let them know that you want the right to vote to bring the troops home on April 4.