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.