Milwaukee war referendum in November?

It appears that the citizens of Milwaukee will get a chance to express themselves on the war on Iraq, but probably not until November 2006.

Backers of the referendum had asked for a vote in April, when the war will be on the ballot in Madison and a number of other communities, but the Common Council moved it to November, when there will be a bigger turnout.

Final passage, ironically, was held up by Ald. Jim Bohl, who had argued the Council was spending too much time on the issue but then used a parliamentary maneuver to insure that it will spend more time at its next meeting.

Some complained that the November date was being chosen to try to help Gov. Jim Doyle, who will be on the ballot then. It's hard for anyone to complain too loudly, though, because the Republicans in the legislature are blatantly timing a gay marriage referendum for November in hopes of bringing out people who will vote against Doyle.

The Journal Sentinel reports.

UPDATE: Rundown on statewide action.