By Jim Keithley

Sentry staff

    South Portland City Councilors have painted
themselves into an uncomfortable corner. Now they are trying to dance
their way out.

    Last month a resolution supporting U.S. troops was
defeated because of its specific language. Last week a revision was
adopted but is called insignificant by some citizens. City leaders
passed the revised resolution by a vote of 5-1, but not before another
rowdy session inside City Council Chambers.

    "Your actions on April 7, or lack there of, should
serve as an embarrassment," said Valorie Swiger, referring to the
defeat of Councilor Chris Bowring's original resolve to support the
U.S. troops serving in the war with Iraq.

    Swiger's son Jason is serving in U.S. Army. She
became emotional when councilors debated the revised resolve on
Wednesday, April 23.     Councilor Linda Boudreau and
others spent two weeks coming up with language that "everyone can live
with.”

    Boudreau was among the three councilors to shoot
down the first resolve saying words such as; war, Iraq, September 11
and President Bush were inappropriate.

    "I think Councilor Bowring's intent was good, the
meeting became very emotional and stressful, no compromise was reached
that night," Boudreau said of the original resolve.

    Councilors received letters, phone calls and e-mails
from irate residents saying they were “anti-American” for voting down
the resolve.

    The newly-crafted resolve was met with more anger in Council Chambers.

    Councilor Chris Bowring called for a postponement on
the new resolve because Councilor Thomas Maietta was not present.

    "I think we need to wait for a full council," Bowring said.

    Boudreau shot back, "I don't want to keep this
battle going in South Portland. It is time to put an end to it," she
said. "It's taken on a life of its own."

    "It (the resolution) was very important two weeks
ago, it's even more important now," she said. "I'm not in favor of
postponing."

    Councilors voted 3-3 in favor of postponement. Because of the tie vote, the motion failed.

    Councilors were back to the newly-drafted resolve.

    Councilor David Jacobs, who voted the first resolve
down, reiterated his support for the troops, but stuck to his original
stance saying, "The language in the resolve was inappropriate," he said.

    Jacobs was among the group to craft the newly-worded resolve.

    "We've discussed this to death," he said. "Some
folks have been using this for personal gain, and for that, I say shame
on you."

    The new resolve was the next-to-the-last item on the
agenda. Councilors finally got around to the vote at 9:30 p.m. (two and
a half hours after the meeting began.) By that time, there were 8
people remaining in Council Chambers. Among them; 3 reporters, 1 city
employee and just 4 residents. Varolie Swiger was one of them.

    "This means absolutely nothing," she said. "You gave
your true beliefs two weeks ago," she said. "It means nothing, because
what is behind you is not sincerity."

    The council voted 5-to-1 to pass the new resolve.
Councilor Robert Fickett was the only hold-out. Fickett said he
supported the troops, but while he was explaining why he voted against
the resolve, Mayor Ralph Baxter cut him off.

    The issue is far from over. A petition drive has
been mounted in the city. Organizers, including Varolie Swiger, want
the voters to decided. If enough signatures are gathered the question
could turn up on a citywide referendum in November.