The big story in the Chronicle today is Bozeman Mayor Jeff Krauss’s refusal to sign the recently passed Iraq anti-war resolution.

Krauss said he opposed the resolution for two reasons: he considered it inappropriate for the city to be discussing a federal issue; and U.S. troops’ perseverance in Iraq is saving lives.

I have written before about Krauss’s first point; whether or not local governments should be involved in federal issues. My finding then, which I still agree with, is that local governments are taking up this (and other) mantles in the absence of any kind of actual inspirational leader in our federal government executive. This is what I had to say at that time (about Kyoto):

I am constantly reminded, and impressed, by localized government entities that speak/act on issues of national (or in this case, international) importance. The number of city and county governments that have officially spoken up in support of the Kyoto Protocol is a fine example of this kind of local action, and this new agreement is an assertive extension of that kind of movement. This five-state venture is the most recent development in a series of pacts that these states have been working on for a while now.

When there is no real leadership; when nothing is getting done, more localized leadership has stepped up to fill in the void on issues like global warming, Iraq, and gun control.

Of course, we can (and we often do) argue about Krauss’s second point; that our presence in Iraq is worth the price(s) we are paying. If Krauss really thinks that a city government has no place in federal issues, then how does a Mayor have authority to speak to the effectiveness of U.S. troops in Iraq? It is a bit of a catch 22, but in the end this resolution passed and will go on to President Bush, Montana’s congressmen, and the Bozeman-area state reps, with or without Krauss’s signature.

In the space normally reserved for the mayor’s signature on the official copy of the resolution, two of the three commissioners who voted in favor of the resolution will sign instead, said City Manager Chris Kukulski. That is the protocol spelled out in the city charter. In addition, the resolution will note that Krauss refused to sign.