Councilman's tough decision to back impeachment

John Sawyer,

elected to the Santa Rosa City Council in 2004, is owner of Sawyer's News.

There is no doubt in my mind that I raised many eyebrows after my vote supporting the impeachment of our president.

My struggle grew from my need to satisfy two conflicting responsibilities. For the most part, I feel it necessary to put away my personal feelings when making decisions as a member of the City Council. Usually, that task is fairly easy; not this time.

Up until now, I have not engaged in a public discussion regarding actions being taken by our president. Privately, I have not avoided the discussions with the customers of my business, nor with my friends and family. But that all changed. I was asked to take a position as a seated member of the Santa Rosa City Council.

I have stated to my fellow council members several times in the past and lately that I didn't feel comfortable weighing in on issues facing our representatives in Washington. I was faced with challenging my "comfort zone" in a public setting. I found myself nose to nose with the reality that, in this case, I simply could not avoid the ultimate question: Does John Sawyer support the behavior of the president of the United States and is he willing to state that publicly?

I chose not to deny how I really felt on an issue that transcended the purview of the City Council, and I have no regrets. I have disappointed those who feel I have diminished the office of the City Council by stepping into matters not usually within its purview.

I have lost the business of some of my customers who don't agree with my opinions on the behavior of our president. I have lost the votes of those who believe, in this case, I should keep my opinions to myself.

Never have I received so much communication on a decision I made while on the City Council.

The impassioned calls and e-mails I have received, both negative and positive, have felt visceral in nature, which speaks to the high level of emotion people are feeling about this issue.

Tuesday night, at least 40 audience members presented compelling reasons for impeachment, and in hindsight, I wish we would have had the opportunity to hear from the other side.

Although I stepped into the national fray last Tuesday night, it was after spending more than eight hours that day, along with my colleagues, on issues affecting Santa Rosa citizens directly, such as gang violence and our city budget crisis.

At the end of the day, I feel confident that most of my constituents, customers, friends and family know I did not take my decision lightly.

They understand the dilemma that I faced and that I resolved it the best way I knew by being honest with them and myself -- my harshest critic and the one I have to look at in the mirror every day.