03/28/2006: "CC May Ask For Vote On Iraq War"

At the end of the County Council meeting last week, Council Chair Lichter told the departing audience that there was one more item he wished to bring up, and then suggested that the County hold an advisory election to see if the citizens of SJC would vote to have the Council pass a resolution to "Immediately withdraw the troops from Iraq, and provide Iraq with humanitarian aid through the United Nations". Tom Munsey of the Green Party of SJC had on previous occasions informed the Council that a number of communities across the country had passed resolutions, or sent letters, to the Administration calling for the withdraw of troops from Iraq.

The last time the voters went to the polls to vote an advisory ballot was on the Guest House issue, which passed with a nearly 74% majority in favor. The current Council has so far chosen to ignore the results of that election, which had been supported by the previous BOCC, but since the proposed Iraq vote would be their idea, one may expect they would abide by the results of that election -if it takes place.

Since Lichter's suggestion had come at the end of the day, and Councilman Myhr was absent, it was decided to wait for Myhr's return before proceeding to discussion of the proposal. At this weeks Monday work session with staff and the County Administrator, Councilman Lichter was absent, but it was decided to place his suggestion on the agenda for discussion at the regular scheduled meeting on Tuesday the 28th. Myhr said that he was not sure a national issue is "our business" but that he had been "against it (the invasion) in the first place, but now that we are there, we need to figure out a way to get out gracefully".

Ranker said there has been no discussion of how much such an election would cost, and Myhr's asked if it could be placed on the May ballot -which is the special election the County is paying for to decide the excise tax proposal for affordable housing. Staff informed him the deadline is the end of March.

The cost for a special election could run as high as the $25,000.00, which is what the Affordable Housing election in May may cost, but if there is an election that is being paid for by the County, then adding an advisory vote issue to a ballot would add very little to the cost. Lichter told The Guardian that because of the cost of a special election, and the lack of time available to place a measure on the May ballot, the November election may be their choice, if the full Council should decide to go ahead with the vote.