Group wants special election on immigration ordinance

By Don Bowen/Fremont Tribune
Tuesday, Aug 19, 2008 - 01:34:12 pm CDT

Organizers of a petition drive are working to hold a special election on a proposed ordinance aimed at fighting illegal immigration.

Originally, the group, which is listed as Jerry Hart, Wanda Kotas and John Wiegert, had wanted the question to be on the November general election.

Dodge County Clerk and county election commissioner Fred Mytty said it doesn’t appear the group would have had enough time to get the necessary petition signatures needed to make the deadline for the November ballot.

For a petition initiative to be on the November ballot, about 2,250 signatures would have had to be verified in time for members of the Fremont City Council to approve a resolution asking Mytty to put the initiative on the ballot. The council would have had to approve a resolution by 4:30 p.m. Sept. 2.

The proposed ordinance would have prohibited the harboring of, renting to and hiring of illegal immigrants in the city. The ordinance failed on a split vote of the council. Mayor "Skip" Edwards broke the tie by voting against the proposed ordinance. He has since set up a task force to investigate other local options to handle illegal immigration.

City Clerk Kim Volk said the group organizing the petition drive originally brought her a copy of a petition for her approval last week. She said she handed it back with corrections that needed to be made. Monday, the group presented a new proposed petition - this one calling for a special election. She has three days to check it over and return it.

Volk must approve the petition before it can be circulated for signatures.

Mytty said the petition organizers could force the city to hold a special election with signatures of 20 percent of the registered voters in the city. As of today, they would need almost 3,000 signatures, and they would have six months to collect signatures.

The city would have to pay the cost of such an election. Mytty was not immediately available Tuesday afternoon to provide a cost estimate.

"... They could have a special election as early as January 2009," he said, adding special elections are not allowed during the month before or the month after a regularly scheduled election.

The percentage of registered voters will be taken from the day the petitions are turned in.

"That number is a moving target, but it doesn’t move that much," he said.

Attempts to reach the organizers of the petition drive by press time were unsuccessful.

Mytty said the organizers would have had a serious time crunch to get the measure on the November ballot.

For the council to approve a resolution by the deadline, petition signatures would need to be turned in to Volk, who would turn them over to Mytty’s office for verification. That could take a week or longer.

"We hope we could get that done in a week," he said.

To give workers in Mytty’s office a week to verify the signatures, the petition organizers would have needed to turn them in by Monday, giving them only a few days to get the needed signatures, which would be at least 15 percent of the total registered voters in the city, Mytty said.

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scoop I
Aug 19, 2008 11:20 AM
O boy, another special election!I am intersted to see if it will occur, and the turnout should be quite interesting. If it accomplishes nothing else,it will at least show where the registered voters of FREMONT stand on the issue.
Alison
Aug 19, 2008 12:14 PM
Let the task force do its job. This will not move the community forward in any way.

BTW: love to hear what folks like Warner would think about spending $$ on special election since he has always been against that.
Give it up...
Aug 19, 2008 12:42 PM
Here we go again, another round to divide this town some more. Personally I hope that this doesn't get the signatures and the $$$ is too much for special election. There are other ways to deal with illegals. I know, I know - illegal is illegal but the council is working with a special group to see if they can work with the federal gov. Let's see what they come up with before more $$$ is wasted.
Kevin Rangle
Aug 19, 2008 2:17 PM
This has got to stop. Are these people so blind to the reality that this ordinance was not a stance for or against illegal immigration? The ordinance would fail to do what the task Force can succeed at doing. And that s working within the law to enforce the law. Your vigilantism mentality is mind boggling. The Attorney General said don't do it, the Governor FROM FREMONT, said don't do it, legal council said don't do it? Why do these people think their way is the only way. I am firmly against illegal immigration, but the task force is the way to go.
Concerned Fremonter
Aug 19, 2008 5:33 PM
Jerry, Wanda, & John: I completely support your efforts. Don't let the blogs get you down. Anyone who truly wants something done about this issue and knows all of the facts will support you. Trust me, I will be calling to sign the petition and know way to many people who will also be in line to do the same! The "task force" is a joke and anyone with any common sense knows that. Keep up the good work!
CW
Aug 19, 2008 6:20 PM
I like the idea of letting the registered voters here in Fremont be heard. If nothing else it will tell us how people really feel about the issue. I think we should all be able to vote on lots of issues that come about when it concerns our town. Our elected officials don't really care about how we feel, and if thats the case we should be able to voice our opinions on what should be done by means of a vote. Oh, and before you get all crazy, I like the idea of a task force working with the federal government as well. I think we should do anything we can to discourage illegals from coming to our town state and ultimately our country. My reasons arent racially motivated either, so please bleeding hearts save that line. Today I took my son, my mothers and some friends to the park to have a picnic. To say the least we didnt enjoy the view since the park has been covered in Sur 13 graffiti. It's things like this that make me feel that we need to do something. Whats the point of tagging the park? Its just ridiculous!
Bob
Aug 19, 2008 7:31 PM
Kevin...you said it perfectly!! Thanks for your comments!
Sandi L
Aug 19, 2008 7:35 PM
I belive this community actually wants to do something useful and productive reagrding the issues with immigration -- this law is clearly not the answer. Let's move forward folks -- let's push the leaders to do something useful.

The law was created in haste and is not the answer. We do not have to sit by and do nothing...but putting time into this ordinance and the petition effort is a step back...not forward.

I ask the citizens to not support this petition effort instead let's see what the task force (not with a whole new group of members) comes up with. I acutally believe they will attempt to do somethinf useful...voices will be heard if we focus on working together on solutions.
Susan Smith
Aug 19, 2008 9:01 PM
If you think for one second that this "special task commisison" is going to do anything about the illegal immigration problem in Fremont, then I've got some swamp land I want to sell you. Put the vote up to the people. A vote or signature for this ordinance is a stand for America anything else is just cowardly and treasonous. Goodluck Fremont!
jon
Aug 19, 2008 10:41 PM
Susan- Have you talked to anyone invovled in this task force or the work is already underway? Obviously not. I realize it takes a leap of faith -- but at least get some info before you are so quick to judge as failure...a positive look at something might do you some good.

Additionally, just as it was voted down by the council becuase it was a bad law that would not do anything to fix the issues at hand...wasting more money by having a special election and trying to get this same bad law on the books is also wrong. On the other hand if the issue is on the ballot and waste the money of the special election -- than I have no doubt it will not pass. In the end so few folks vote and I believe enough folks will get educated on the issue to realize this is not the answer for Fremont.
Marice
Aug 19, 2008 10:44 PM
The ordinance was created in haste and now this petition is also being done in haste.

Yes, we need solutions to this problem but can't we come up with something that will have an impact...not just something we want to "send a message with"??

We can do better and don't need this petition to do it.
Bill
Aug 19, 2008 11:17 PM
Simple solutions almost never solve complex problems...

this petition (and the law they want on the books) is clearly no different.
jake
Aug 20, 2008 12:30 AM
where can i sign it at?
Dont give up
Aug 20, 2008 1:05 AM
Whatever it takes, go for it. Task force may or may not work for the citizens. It's up to you to make sure it does. Give them your input, swamp them with facts and laws. Help them get something done, don't leave it up to them alone. Local and state governments CAN do something. Persue the petition as well, and good luck.
I do not believe that the
Aug 20, 2008 1:25 AM
voting people of Fremont were given a chance to vote on the facts of the proposed ordinance. Let's have the facts be given the same amount of press coverage as the Tribune and Herald gave to it's opponents. Let us have a chance to take a studied vote on this, unencumbered by outside special interest protest groups from either side.
If you think this is going to go away, you are hugely underestimating the quiet patriots of our community.
We Deserve To Be Heard
Aug 20, 2008 7:54 AM
Whether "for" or "against" the ordinance, I believe this issue is big enough to let the citizens of Fremont decide what they want. One way or another, we deserve to be heard and then let the pieces fall where they may.
Momma
Aug 20, 2008 8:18 AM
In hard economic times, people like to blame all their problems on certain ethnic groups: jewish people, irish, black people etc.
Can't we ever learn and advance? This whole issue has made me decide to vote for Obama--change is needed!!!!!!!!
Merit
Aug 20, 2008 10:37 AM
Susan Smith, NOT FROM FREMONT WON'T PAY TAXES FOR THIS ORDINANCE. Also Carl Schaffner wanna be Mayor from Fremont but has not paid property taxes in three years for some unknown reason. Carl seems to have gone silent in not responding to why he does not pay taxes but is willing to fight to a bloody end to push an illegal ordinance that will cost us money all the while shunning a task force that will get stuff done within the law. Think about this fellow bloggers. You have two big supporters of this issue and when the tax man comes neither one of them will pay a dime. hmmmm?
HAPPY
Aug 20, 2008 11:16 AM
MOMMA-YOU JUST MADE MY DAY THANKS FOR THE POSITIVE INPUT =).....
Thomas K
Aug 20, 2008 12:05 PM
The problem of illegal workers in our community may be an issue.

The law these folks with the petition want us to vote on is not a solution to the problem.

I support solutions not laws that were only intended to "send messages" not actually solve anyhthing.

Don't waste our tax dollars (as much as $20,000) to put this on the ballot.
When you sign this petition...
Aug 20, 2008 12:08 PM
also please include your bank account number so that when Fremont tries to put this law on the books and is sued, you can foot the bill. I for one do not want to pay for the lawsuit that will come without a doubt. To those that say lawyers lined up to represent Fremont for FREE...nothing is EVER free so don't kid yourselves. There is a motive to the offer (if they exist).
Why isn't all of this energy being spent offering real solutions to the problem instead of knee-jerk reactions? I am opposed to illegal immigration too and have contacted my representatives to voice my concerns. Why don't all of those in opposition lobby the state building, get on a bus to D.C. or at the very least start a letter writing campaign rather than push to keep an initiative alive that simply won't stand up in the end. Research other communitites that have tried to place a similar law into effect. All have either been struck down in higher level courts or are working their way through the court system in lawsuits pending.
Amy B
Aug 20, 2008 12:11 PM
I would love to hear how Bob Warner, Mary Marsh or Scott Schaller would feel about spending money on a special election...I seem to recall that Bob especially sees that as a waste of tax payer dollars...still the case?

By the way...what is the Warner up to these days? Creates a big stink in town and bows out?
John
Aug 20, 2008 3:40 PM
A special election is a ONE time cost. Paying for illegal aliens is NEVER ENDING!!!!!!
American Patriot
Aug 20, 2008 6:08 PM
What don't you understand. It is not about race it is all about braking OUR LAWS. If the Government wont do anything to protect us, then it is up to the state. If they wont do anything then it is up to the cities. Then if nothing still isn't done then WE as citizens have to do something. The patriots of 1700's felt like some of you do we would be ruled by England now and not a free and law bidding country.
Other cities have passed local ordenance and they are working with no law suits. One of them is Milton Floida
Check it out, and there are many others. I sent the list to the Council people but it was ignored
Al
Aug 20, 2008 8:54 PM
John...then feel free to waste your tax dollars on this special election. I'll choose to spend mine on something that will actually do something useful.
RE Am Patriot
Aug 20, 2008 11:33 PM
What you fail to understand is that the laws of FL diffr from Neb. Neb gets its powers from the State Leg which means we have to have permission from the Ste to eneact laws (eg smoking bans, sex offender living restrictions)Florida is what is called Home Rule which means local gov can make a law that is not addressed by state law and enforse it so long as it does not conflict with federal law. that is why fremont's proposed ordinance would not work.
I know that is tough to grasp for people that want simple solutions to complex issues. i am so against illegals I cringe. But I understand how bad that ordinance was. We have got to let this knee jerk idea that if we pass an ordinance ill imm will no longer be in Fremont. I hope the rationale people of fremont will rise above this and do something real about ill imm. And sorry pudnits, your task force is the only hope. they can work within the law and not use emotion to make decisions.
Jamers
Aug 21, 2008 8:49 AM
Can anyone honestly say they are "for" illegal immigration?
Probably not.
That said, the issue, for the 4,000,000,000th time is that we AS A COMMUNITY, are unable to inact such an ordinance because of the federal laws. Got it?
OK.
If you want to waste money on something that's going to cost more more to try and enforce, than we AS A COMMUNITY will make fools of ourselves.
Hopefull
Aug 21, 2008 9:26 AM
To Susan Smith:
I am truly offended by your remarks about the task force. I read the paper and didn't see your name, so is that why you are so negative? Why don't you allow these people the time to do the jobs they VOLUNTEERED for and see if they can make a difference before you judge. Get involved as much as you can no matter what you stand on this issue is. Help solve the problem instead of trying to create more problems. It is really easy to be an arm chair psychic, even harder to get off your duff and get involved. I'm praying the Task Force works and we Fremonters can find a peaceful, legal solution to the problem. No more negativity, it serves no purpose!
Carl Schaffner
Aug 21, 2008 12:10 PM
This final comment is for the editorial staff of the Fremont Tribune. If I'm in fact the complete idiot you all seem to make me out to be then why is your paper so cowardly about posting my responses to my critics? The critics are permitted to attack yet my thoughtful responses are pulled or the topic is closed, seems to be a fatal bias at our local paper. I've politely had it and will not pay to receive a paper that is more interested in inventing the news rather than reporting it.
Tracy Buffington
Aug 21, 2008 12:56 PM
Mr. Schaffner,

As moderator of the comments on this Web site, I am uncertain which comments you feel have not been posted. In checking through our files, every one of your comments have been approved.

Additionally, no story comments have been closed. News stories are posted on our Web site for three days and then go into our archives. Opinion pieces, both columns and letters, are posted on our Web site for a week. Comments still can be made and posted on stories that are in the archives.

If we have missed any of your responses, please e-mail the newspaper with what those were and the approximate time they were made. If there is a problem with our computer systems, we will strive to fix them as quickly as possible.

Thank you,
Tracy Buffington, Tribune editor
poor carl
Aug 21, 2008 1:13 PM
Carl: how very clever...blame the paper. I have read many of your comments on this site and frankly they all contained a bunch of nothing speak. Or did the paper somehow these comments with your name on them?

Yes - Carl, politics can be a rough game.
Wow Carl
Aug 21, 2008 3:22 PM
take a chill pill Carl! I agree with post at Aug 21, 2008 1:13 PM Poor Carl - you like to talk alot but not say anything. Anyways, you shouldn't be using a blog for your campaign, you should be talking to the public about why you would be a good major besides you are going to clean this town of illegals & we all know...illegal is illegal.
jamers
Aug 21, 2008 4:08 PM
In a strange twist of irony, the comment about his comments not being posted is posted.

?????
james
Aug 21, 2008 10:09 PM
so carl -- where are these supposed comments? I've seen several you posted and none "answered your critics" -- if you are going to throw out this claim you should at least respond to the editor's comments.
Joe
Aug 21, 2008 10:22 PM
Carl's own website says:

"If Fremont is to thrive as a City we must all work to maintain a civil, functional system in which all are EQUALLY invested in the burdens and riches of our City while building an economic base that is inviting to new business and neighbors."

What does he mean by "equally invested" -- he doesn't pay taxes... I'm confused by his defintion of equally.
To Hopefull
Aug 22, 2008 7:10 AM
FYI: Yes, they are volunteers but they were also asked to be on the task force. The "everyday" folks of this community were not invited to volunteer.

Part of solving the problem means having open dialogue even if that dialogue speaks negatively about the actions of those on the task force and/or the politicans of this community, state, and country.

I would rather have individuals who speak out if they disagree than a community of sheep followers who go along blindly simply because that's the way it's always been done.

I personally don't see the task force as being beneficial to solving any of the real issues behind this illegal immigrant ordinance anyway. Oh sure, they'll take credit for ICE responding now, saying that it's because of the meeting they held with them. The intelligent citizens of this city will see through that and see that ICE is responding now, not because of any meeting, but to try and pacify the citizens. The problem, according to FPD, isn't that they haven't been reporting but that their reports haven't been investigated. Typical behavior of ICE whose represntative says they don't have the ability to respond to every report.

The voices of the citizens have to be heard. You do this in several ways: Vote out those who you feel aren't speaking on your behalf. That's why you elect them to begin with; to represent your views and be your voice. Start, and continue, to contact ICE if you suspect someone is illegal. All the information is on their homepage. Show them that you don't like being pacified and until the issue is solved it's not going to go away just because a few folks are put on a hold. Continue open dialogue.