Vets: We won't give up
KELLOGG - News that a petition to recall Kellogg Mayor Mac Pooler and the City Council had been rejected was met with disappointment and renewed resolve by Silver Valley veterans.
"We knew from the get-go this would take a long time," said Brian Becker, a member of a Silver Valley group of veterans urging the city of Kellogg to return the Veterans Memorial to its original location in front of the Scout House on Hill Street.
"Our resolve is solid on this," Becker said.
It was determined Friday by Shoshone County officials that the recall petition Becker handed Kellogg City Clerk Terry Sharp was invalid. Sharp said the underlying reason for the rejection is invalid signatures. Some signatures were found to be from non-Kellogg residents or from non-registered voters.
The veterans group "will continue forward" according to Becker, unless in the meantime the city of Kellogg were to return the Veterans' Memorial to its original resting place.
"It would take a great personal fortitude to step forward and say they made a mistake," Becker said, hoping that common sense will prevail and the issue will be resolved peacefully.
"We can't force them to do anything," Becker said. "But we can sure as hell make them wish they had."
A second initiative has been drawn up and handed over to the city of Kellogg attorney to be reviewed and validated before signatures are collected, as the veterans hope to put into city law the rightful location of the memorial, or at least allow the voters to have a say in the matter as it is placed on the ballot.
Becker added that they also plan to begin the process of a recall petition anew after the required 90 days. To him, the 90-day wait doesn't hurt them but may help them in the end, or at least provide them with a peace of mind. In 2011 Shoshone County will take over the role of counting the ballots for the city of Kellogg.
"People are wiling to sign," Becker stressed. "They want to sign. People really strongly believe in this."
Bob McKay, another Silver Valley veteran closely following the controversy, is displeased with the news of the rejected recall petition.
"The city has been totally uncooperative," McKay said. "They say one thing at a meeting, then do something else."