2/08/06 Watertown Troop Petition Is A Go
Wednesday, February 8, 2006
By Steven Elbow The Capital Times
The mayor of Watertown said today he believes the city will likely not appeal a judge's order to put an anti-war referendum before the voters.
Reserve Jefferson County Circuit Judge Patrick L. Snyder of Waukesha gave the city 10 days to decide whether to appeal the ruling, but officials are hoping to make their decision tonight.
The City Council voted in January to kill the resolution by the Watertown Peace and Democracy Coalition, which urges an immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq. The coalition filed suit days later.
The coalition exceeded the 980 signatures needed to get the measure before the City Council, but the council decided the issue was not an appropriate one to be decided by the city government.
Snyder disagreed.
"The order from the judge was very clear," Mayor John David said in an interview.
Watertown is one of about 22 municipalities that has gathered the signatures needed to put a "Bring the Troops Home" measure before voters, including Madison and Monona. Milwaukee is set for the November ballot.
The coalition wants to put the resolution to the voters to send a strong statement of no-confidence to Washington regarding the war.
David said the council will meet in a special session tonight to take up the matter.
He said he didn't know what action the council would take, but added, "My guess is they're going to put it on a referendum."
\ E-mail: selbow@madison.com