Helenans expressed their displeasure with the country's foreign policy on a pair of non-binding ballot referendums, voting overwhelmingly to call for the immediate withdrawal of American troops from Iraq, while shooting down a measure urging Congress to provide a blank check to the military to fight terrorism.

Referendum 2007-1, which asked city voters whether they're for or against "urging the Congress of the United States to authorize and fund an immediate and orderly withdrawal of the United States military from Iraq," passed by a preliminary count of 5,032 votes to 3,108.

Referendum 2007-2, asking Helenans to "urge the Congress of the United States of America to fund our military forces totally and without conditions in the global war on terror," lost by 1,857 votes in a preliminary count, 4,917 to 3,060.

Gabriel Furshong, campaign officer with Helenans for Troops Home, the ballot committee behind Referendum 2007-1, said the results show Helenans aren't pleased with the five-year-old war in Iraq.

"Nearly 62 percent of the votes is a huge and very important message to send to our congressional delegation," he said. "This is a message that Helenans are sending after five years of failed foreign policy in Iraq and very little accountability. I expect (Sen. Jon) Tester, (Sen. Max) Baucus and (Rep. Denny) Rehberg to respond and let us know how these votes will influence their decision-making."

John Forbes, who authored the referendum calling for unconditional congressional support against terrorism, said the measure's defeat doesn't shine a positive light on the city.

"This is a referendum that called for supporting the troops, not a political referendum as some of the people opposed to it tried to make it," he said. "To have what I consider basically a vote against the military does not reflect well on our community."

Forbes said the language of his referendum as it appeared on the ballot was not the same language as was passed by the City Commission in agreeing to put the matter to a vote, though he's unsure whether he'll pursue any action.

John Mundinger, a Vietnam veteran and spokesman for Helenans for Troops Home, praised the number of young Helenans whom he said are protesting the Iraq war in a more civil fashion than members of his generation protested the war in Southeast Asia.

"They used the one constitutional outlet that was available to them to express their concerns," he said. "It's very gratifying to me to see all the hard work these young people put in out of their concern for what they believe are serious mistakes our government is making in Iraq and to see them rewarded for all their hard work."