"You should sign once:" So why is Facebook administrator encouraging folks to sign streetcar petition twice?

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- It may be their best hope to stop construction of a downtown Milwaukee streetcar. A petition drive is still going strong. Its goal is to let voters decide whether the controversial project moves forward. This, after the Milwaukee Common Council voted to approve the project and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett signed legislation to move the project forward on Tuesday, February 10th. But FOX6 News has uncovered a problem -- it appears some are asking whether they can sign the petition more than once.

Nearly 32,000 signatures are needed by early March -- and only one signature per person will be counted. But the administrator of a Facebook group is defending his comments suggesting it doesn't hurt to sign the petition twice.

Many of those opposed to the project have shared their opinions on an unofficial "Stop the Milwaukee Streetcar" Facebook page. More than 3,700 people have "liked" the page.

On the page -- someone recently posted a question: If they've already signed a petition against the streetcar, should they do it again? A page administrator responded, saying the original signature counts, but then said: "However, if another petition is presented to you, it doesn't hurt to sign it one more time to give your signature a better chance of being counted."

City Clerk Jim Owczarski says he doesn't understand that advice. He says only one valid signature is allowed, and his office will be checking closely for duplicates.

"Only one signature counts. There is not a crime being committed.  That should never be said, but that is a very strange thing to suggest someone do.  The whole point is one signature counts," Owczarski said.

Via a telephone conversation with FOX6 News, the Facebook page's administrator says he wants to remain anonymous, but he says there is nothing unethical going on here. In fact, he says it's just the opposite. The administrator says there are concerns some signatures turned in may be unable to be read, and it's possible the page you signed may not be turned in.

Chris Kliesmet's "Citizens for Responsible Government" is organizing the petition drive. He disagrees with the advice offered by the Facebook page's administrator, but he says he believes they raise some valid points.

"You should sign the petition once. I think there is a good effort out there on behalf of everyone involved to make sure all the signatures are in and are counted.  And right now I don`t have any reservations," Kliesmet said.

That Facebook page administrator tells FOX6 News he's standing by his recommendation folks sign the petition twice. He says he suggested that after talking with someone at City Hall.

In a lengthy post on the Facebook page, that administrator criticizes FOX6 News for covering this story.

This, as the message from the officials petition drive organizers is that the petition drive is still going strong, and that folks should sign the petition once.

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