To paraphrase a song from "The Music Man," "Oh we've got trouble, right here in the Lake City. Yes we've got trouble with a capital T that rhymes with P and that stands for Park." The park at the center of our brouhaha is McEuen Park and it is the issue that has divided our city for over a year.

On one side you have Team McEuen, the Mayor and three council members, the Board of Realtors, Downtown Business Coalition, Police Union, Fire Union, and other supporters. They claim that the plan that changes McEuen Park is part of a larger vision that will benefit the city for years to come and make our beautiful Lake City a vacation destination, encourage business to relocate here, create jobs, and raise tax revenues. The McEuen renovation plan supporters state that this very issue illustrates the very nature of our representative form of government. More to the point, when asked about an advisory vote, our Mayor stated that was what we elected her and the city council for ... to make those decisions for us. The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) generically describes recall opponents "... argue that it can lead to an excess of democracy, that the threat of a recall election lessens the independence of elected officials, that it undermines the principle of electing good officials and giving them a chance to govern until the next election, and that it can lead to abuses by well-financed special interest groups."

On the other side you have the Recall CdA movement and their supporters. They claim that they are, or were, opposed to the original plan because of the high price tag (which has since been changed), the appearance of a plan that was presented already in final form, and that public opinion was not taken into consideration. The NCSL generically describes supporters "... of the recall maintain that it provides a way for citizens to retain control over elected officials who are not representing the best interests of their constituents, or who are unresponsive or incompetent. This view holds that an elected representative is an agent or a servant and not a master." The recall supporters are exercising their First Amendment right to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

So, which side is right? The only real way to find out is to vote. After all, isn't that the American way? Only a vote will put this issue to rest. If Team McEuen prevails and the Mayor and three city council members survive the recall vote, then opponents need to go back to their lives and know that they had their day at the polls. If, however, the recall is successful then those recalled need to gracefully exit and allow the new city leadership to revisit the McEuen Park issue. Either way, it will finally put the issue behind us ... no opinion ... just fact.

Jeff Hutchinson is a Coeur d'Alene resident and retired colonel in the U.S. Air Force.