Bring troops home, Davis council says

Tuesday night's Davis City Council meeting was more emotional than most, with tears spilled, hearty applause and passionate speeches on both sides of a war-resolution debate.

Brought to the council before the winter break, two resolutions calling for an orderly but swift withdrawal of American troops from Iraq met with resistance from military families back in December.

At Tuesday's meeting, 32 people spoke in favor of such a resolution and dozens more sat in the standing-room-only Community Chambers waving “Bring Home the Troops” signs.

The resolution passed, but not without some difficulty. Councilman Ted Puntillo voted against the resolution, Councilman Don Saylor abstained and Mayor Ruth Asmundson publicly wobbled on the fence between abstention and approval before finally tipping in favor.

Prior to the vote, 42 people queued to speak, some angry and some fighting tears.

“Davis has been fortunate that we have not yet lost one of our own, but it's been close,” said Laurie Loving, a member of Military Families Speak Out. “We've had two in Woodland and five in Sacramento.”

Vacaville has lost three soldiers, Pat Sheehan told the council, one of whom was his son.

“With this resolution, we just want the war to stop,” said Sheehan's daughter, Carly. “The resolution shouldn't be seen as demoralizing, but the ultimate support for the greatest soldiers the world has ever seen.”

Carly's mother, Cindy Sheehan, has gained national prominence as a spokeswoman against the war.

But some families of soldiers currently stationed in Iraq said the council's actions furthered their feelings of alienation from a mostly liberal, anti-war community.

“In my 20 years in Davis, there is little evidence that there is anything but disdain for the military,” said Jim Hechtl.

“These resolutions are divisive and hurtful to residents that have family in the military,” Cindy Schulze told the council. “What Davis can do best is outwardly give a show of support at a time we are missing our family members.”

But most speakers said the resolution was the best support they could give the troops.

“Why would we want them to die for a war we all know was a lie?” asked Kevin Wolf.

Puntillo and Saylor eloquently explained their reasons for voting against the resolution and abstaining from a vote, respectively. For Puntillo, it was a full-time job talking with Yolo County veterans that informed his no vote.

“Most of them are telling me that Iraq is not ready to run on its own,” Puntillo said. “It's almost like doing surgery on someone and halfway through saying, ‘Well, we're done.'

“I respect your opinion, and hopefully you'll respect mine,” Puntillo ended to nonpartisan applause.

Saylor, who claimed strong feelings about the war, abstained because he didn't think it was up to the council to speak on such an issue, he said.

Mayor Pro Tem Sue Greenwald and Councilman Stephen Souza cast wholehearted “yes” votes.

Asmundson, speaking last, turned the vote into high drama, thinking aloud on the dais about her decision.

“I've been agonizing about this,” she said. “I can feel the pain in Iraq because I grew up in the Philippines where the war was bad. Manila was devastated.”

There were murmurs from the crowd as Asmundson talked about the good things soldiers are doing in Iraq - building churches, schools and infrastructure.

Asmundson had intended to abstain, but Saylor's vote threw her off, she said.

After checking with the city attorney that the mayor's abstention would still mean the resolution passed, Asmundson paused before saying, “Well, I'm going to vote yes on this one.”

The applause was thunderous and sustained.

By Claire St. John/Davis Enterprise staff writer

Published Jan 11, 2006 - 14:32:33 CST.

Reach Claire St. John at cstjohn@davisenterprise.net or 747-8057.