Wal-Mart and small town politics

Wal-Mart had been in discussions with the city of Jefferson (Pop. 7,500) to build a Supercenter on the edge of town. All the city had to do was annex the piece of land and the plans would have moved forward. The city council, by a 5-3 vote, rejected the annexation, though, for some of the standard anti-Wal-Mart reasons. There was a popular outcry against the council's decision, and a second vote was held. Two city council members changed their minds, and this time the vote was 5-3 in favor of annexation, but it did not pass because it required 6 votes in the affirmative.

Two elderly women in Jefferson have lead the charge against the city council. Unhappy with the three council members, they started a recall effort against the only one who could legally be recalled-local funeral home owner David Olsen. On Tuesday, that recall vote will be held. Being a small town, though, the politics are personal:

He said he's especially hurt that the recall was led by two elderly sisters Charlotte Goers-Nevin and Cheryl Higgins.

"I buried their mother, and they're friends of mine," he said.

Word of advice to Mr. Olsen. It wasn't personal, it was politics. Sometimes citizens bite back when you make unpopular decisions.

Update
Random10 puts me to shame with this great coverage of a story from my own back yard. His post makes me comfortable to say what I originally thought about Olsen's quote-it was cheap emotional politics.