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Provo • Like many members of the Army Reserve, Laura Cabanilla got the call to go to war.

Cabanilla, a lieutenant colonel, will be shipping out in August to serve as a liaison officer to a logistics group at a U.S. base in Kuwait, in support of U.S. operations in Iraq.

This week, she finished up her predeployment training at Rock Island Arsenal in Illinois, which included marching with 60 pounds of combat gear and learning how to clear buildings of enemy forces.

"I've done more low-crawling than I did in basic training," said Cabanilla, who joined the military as an ROTC cadet.

But Cabanilla's deployment is unusual because she is a freshman member of the Municipal Council. Cabanilla sits in one of two at-large seats on the governing body.

Although federal law states that National Guard and Army Reserve members cannot lose their civilian jobs when they are on active duty, elected officials fall into a somewhat different category. If the deployment is for more than 270 days, they have to give up their posts, unless there is a state or local law allowing them to hold it while on duty, Cabanilla said.

The council voted June 15 to allow Cabanilla to retain her seat by granting her an extended leave of absence.

Matthew Taylor, the council's executive director, said Cabanilla will follow the council meetings from her duty station when possible, but legally she will not be able to vote because of the length of her deployment.

"The end result is, she can keep her post, but she can't vote," Taylor said.

David Gunn, chairman of the Provo Veterans Council and a member of the Utah Employer Support for the Guard and Reserves, said it was a good decision.

"It would have been unpatriotic if they were unwilling to accommodate her," Gunn said. "She's a very patriotic person."

Gunn said, based on his understanding of federal law, the council had no choice but to leave Cabanilla's seat open for her, because she is a city employee by virtue of being a council member.

Gunn said Cabanilla was the first elected official he or any member of his employer support committee recall being called up.

West Valley City Manager Wayne Pyle said being a public servant and a part-time soldier can be a challenge. He is a reservist who has been called up twice, including a stint in Afghanistan.

"It put a strain on the organization," Pyle said. "In my own case, I was fortunate to have a supportive staff."

Cabanilla said her council colleagues will help take care of her constituents' needs while she is deployed.

She said she is fortunate to have the council's support, but other elected officials may not be so lucky. For instance, she said Utah County Attorney Jeff Buhman might have to give up his office if his National Guard unit is activated for a prolonged deployment.

That's why she's hoping the Legislature will address the issue when it convenes in January.

Council attorney Neil Lindberg told the body on June 15 that there is talk of drafting a law to allow an appointee to fill in for a member serving in the military for the duration of his or her deployment. —

Farewell reception

P An open house to bid farewell to Provo Councilwoman Laura Cabanilla, a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserves who is being deployed to Kuwait, will be held at 6 p.m. Aug. 3 in the Provo City Center.