In a move that surprised current and former members, Santa Rosa's normally staid and nonpartisan City Council asked Congress to launch impeachment proceedings against President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.
On a 5-1 vote cast at midnight Tuesday, the council endorsed a resolution presented by local impeachment advocates.
The vote by a seven-member council that had steadfastly resisted taking stands on national issues put Santa Rosa in the company of 88 other cities and counties, including Berkeley, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Arcata and Sebastopol.
Advocates, critics and political observers alike were surprised by the vote.
"You're kidding," said Sharon Wright, who served on the council from 1992-04, when told of the vote.
The vote also surprised liberal Councilwoman Susan Gorin, who had anticipated defeat.
"Although I felt myself leaning towards it, I was really surprised by the support from most of the rest of the council because the council has a history of not responding to situations that deal with federal or state issues," she said.
Besides Gorin, council members Carol Dean, Veronica Jacobi, Lee Pierce and John Sawyer supported the resolution. Mayor Bob Blanchard cast the lone no vote while Councilwoman Jane Bender abstained.
Blanchard said he, too, was stunned by a council turnaround he didn't see coming.
"I think they got suckered in," he said, alluding to the impact of pleas from more than 40 speakers who waited until the issue came up at the end of a long council agenda.
Members of the Sonoma County Resolution to Impeach Coalition, which offered the measure, said actions by city councils and state legislatures are the only way to gain the attention of congressional leaders.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, has said she opposes impeachment proceedings and a recent bid to oust Cheney was referred to a committee after several floor votes.
Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, who has introduced a bill to withdraw troops from Iraq, said "this is the worst presidency of my life."
But he stopped short of endorsing impeachment.
At the council meeting Tuesday night, speakers, some wearing buttons and T-shirts calling for impeachment, cited a litany of alleged offenses by the Bush administration, some dealing with the Iraq war and responses to the 9/11 attacks, others involving domestic policy and environmental issues.
"We can't take a stand like that by listening to only 50 people or seeing 2,000 petition signatures," Blanchard said.
But Dean said she saw the names of many friends and neighbors among the signatures collected by the coalition.
Sawyer said he had intended to follow the council's tradition of staying neutral on such issues until talking with family and friends.
"I was clear on my city responsibilities, but I also have personal responsibilities," he said. And, he continued, "I am embarrassed by what I read, what I hear, what I see our officials doing in Washington."
Bender abstained, saying the the issue was inappropriate for the council, but she too was sharply critical of the Bush administration.
Impeachment supporters cheered as council members announced their votes, particularly when Dean cast the deciding vote. "You've got your four," Blanchard said ruefully.
Some former council members joined Blanchard in his criticism of the vote.
Ting Guggiana, a councilman from 1970-82, said the council has evolved to be more liberal and partisan.
"We'd have never touched it in a hundred years," Guggiana said. "It's just ridiculous. What does it mean?"
John Downey, who served from 1968-76, said the council should rigorously stick to "running the business of the city."
"They should be above politics and certainly above any national debate," Downey said.
Six of the seven council members are registered Democrats, according to county election records. Blanchard is registered as "decline to state."
Santa Rosa and Sebastopol are the only Sonoma County cities to endorse impeachment of Bush and Cheney. Rohnert Park turned down a similar request several weeks ago.
The local impeachment coalition includes Progressive Democrats Sonoma County, Veterans for Peace Sonoma County Chapter 71 and Congressional District Impeachment Committee.
Kumari Suvi-das of Sebastopol told the council that Bush and Cheney are responsible for illegal wiretapping, support of torture, lying to Congress to pursue war with Iraq and detainment of alleged prisoners of war without charges.
"If these aren't high crimes and misdemeanors, what are?" she asked.
Former Rohnert Park Councilwoman Dawna Gallagher said she wasn't ready to "change the Pledge of Allegiance to 'one nation under surveillance.' "
Although Bush has less than 14 months left in office, advocates said it's not too late for impeachment.
"They need to be removed from office, not to be allowed to fade away to Texas or somewhere," Mike Everett of Healdsburg told the council.
Gorin said the arguments were persuasive. "I made a bargain with voters to uphold and defend the Constitution. Am I judge and jury? No, but it became clear it was my duty."
Wright, who is running for county supervisor, said her council colleagues were "generalists." Today's council, she said, includes "activists" focused on specific issues, such as bicycles, economic development and greenhouse gases.
Blanchard said he was concerned that the vote portends a change in the council's practice. He said his opposition wasn't related to his son, a former Army specialist who served a tour in Iraq.
"I won't do anything that shows a lack of support for our troops," Blanchard said. "Impeaching our president doesn't show lack of support for our troops. It shows the people are angry with the president."
But he's worried the council opened the door to votes that could lead that way.
"This begins to raise the question as to whether we will take on all comers," Blanchard said. "Is the next issue we're going to take on the war?"
You can reach Staff Writers Mike McCoy at 521-5276 or mike.mccoy@pressdemocrat.com and Guy Kovner at 521-5457 or guy.kovner@pressdemocrat.com.
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