Pennsylvania: Tullytown gets protests over barring councilmember from phoning in from Afghanistan
AP reports: Dozens of veterans gathered outside the Tullytown Municipal Building with an American flag to protest a decision not to allow a borough councilman serving in Afghanistan to vote on borough matters.
Councilman Joe Shellenberger, a 46-year-old Air Force reservist, was sent to Afghanistan in January. Councilman Ed Czyzyk made a motion at the Feb. 6 council meeting to allow Shellenberger to vote while overseas, but the motion died for lack of a second. Czyzyk argued that Shellenberger should have a right to vote because, "He's over there defending our right to vote here."
During public discussion on the matter Tuesday night, many argued that Shellenberger was staying informed and should be allowed to vote via Internet or phone. He has been receiving borough documents through his wife and borough staff. -- AP Wire | 03/07/2007 | Veterans protest barring councilman from voting while on duty