Supervisors say no to war with Iraq

<www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2002/October/02/local/stories/02local.htm>

October 2, 2002
By JEANENE HARLICK
Sentinel staff writer

SANTA CRUZ With strong support from two-dozen county residents, supervisors on Tuesday approved a resolution opposing the United States waging a war against Iraq.
About 25 residents, calling the resolution a “beacon” for local governments, filled the board chamber to voice support for the resolution. Responding to criticism, both local and national, that local governments should steer clear of international policy debates, the residents argued that military action is a local issue. It can involve area soldiers and ultimately steers taxpayer money away from social services, they said.
County supervisors rarely take action on international issues. In doing so, they joined the Santa Cruz City Council, which last week passed a resolution opposing war with Iraq. Santa Cruz was the first local government in the country to do so, and the move drew national attention, bringing both praise and scorn.
The board approved the resolution 3-0, with supervisors Jan Beautz and Tony Campos abstaining. The resolution pledges support for a federal resolution co-authored by U.S. Rep. Sam Farr, whose district includes most of Santa Cruz County.
About 20 seniors turned out for Tuesday’s board session. Many recalled their lives during previous wars. Rachel Haskell of Santa Cruz wore a white dove pin she said she wore during the Vietnam War.
“I never thought I’d have to pull it out and wear it again,” she said. “Listen to the people. They’re way ahead of what we call our government. We all say no to this terrible waste of money and lives.”
Eleanor Wasson of Santa Cruz was 10 years old when World War I ended.
“We sang and danced in the streets because this was the war to end all wars,” she said. “We know that war only breeds more war, and every war brings anger and hatred.”
But others criticize the board for getting involved in something it has no control over.
“Sam Farr and the county should be looking at trying to find some way to clean out the Parjaro River to keep flooding down. They ought to be looking at ways to get highways fixed as opposed to meddling in the federal government,” said Ray Belgard, a Corralitos resident and former county supervisor.
Belgard, who did not attend Tuesday’s meeting, pointed out the House of Representatives will never even hear Farr’s resolution because Congress is controlled by Republicans.
The resolution advocates U.S. leaders work through the United Nations to ensure Iraq is not developing weapons of mass destruction. President George Bush has proposed a unilateral strike against the nation instead.
While Campos said he opposes war with Iraq, the county “has no business” weighing in on international affairs, he said.
“This resolution turns away our attention from local issues we can address,” he said. “We need to stay focused on the problems we can solve in our own back yard.”
Beautz said she heard support and opposition for the resolution from her constituents.
“I feel uncomfortable just giving my personal opinion,” she said. “I only know (about Iraq) from what I read in the paper.”
But other supervisors felt county action was justified. Supervisor Mardi Wormhoudt said if enough cities and counties pass similar resolutions, perhaps Congress will listen.
Supervisor Jeff Almquist said he has two sons who are draft-age. The lives of young people should not be put at risk for “a mid-term election, political advantage, or some psycho-drama involving the president’s father,” he said.
Supervisor Ellen Pirie, who co-sponsored the resolution with Wormhoudt, said war with Iraq would be an abuse of the country’s power.
“We will lose the moral high ground we have for fighting terrorism,” she said. “We’re going to become just a bully.”
One Soquel resident silenced the board chamber when she spoke tearfully of a dream she recently had. In the dream, Ernestina Saldana found her daughter lying in a road, a casualty of war. She asked supervisors to think of the mothers in Iraq.
“We are not bombing Saddam, we are bombing children,” she said. “I’m asking you, in the name of my children, to help teach them the meaning of peace and tolerance.”
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Contact Jeanene Harlick at jharlick (at) santa-cruz.com