Pubdate: Tue, 16 Jul 2002
Source: Repository, The
Copyright: 2002 The Repository
Contact:  http://www.cantonrep.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/954
Author: Andrew Welsh-Huggins, AP Statehouse Correspondent

POLITICAL POSTURING BEGINS IN CAMPAIGN TO CHANGE DRUG LAWS

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Ohio's highest profile political campaign this fall 
may not involve a candidate directly but rather an issue: how to deal with 
illegal drug use.

Supporters and opponents of a ballot initiative to require treatment for 
nonviolent first- and second-time offenders signaled last week that the 
campaign won't be a gentle one.

"If the governor is going to make our initiative the focus of his negative 
re-election campaign, then we are going to make the governor the focus of 
our campaign, and we're going to take it to him just like we are today," 
said Ed Orlett, a spokesman for the Ohio Campaign for New Drug Policies, 
speaking after a news conference last week blasting the drug initiative.

The campaign wants a proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution on the 
Nov. 5 ballot. It's backed by a trio of billionaires trying to change the 
country's approach to dealing with illegal drug use.

Gov. Bob Taft, first lady Hope Taft and a host of other political leaders, 
including some Democrats, oppose the plan.

They say it will weaken Ohio's current system, which involves a combination 
of mandatory treatment and the threat of jail time to help drug users 
overcome addiction.

Taft is helping raise money for Ohioans Against Unsafe Drug Laws, a 
nonpartisan campaign committee fighting the initiative. Toledo Mayor Jack 
Ford, a Democrat and former House minority leader, is a campaign co-chairman.

"We are just making it very clear that we think it's dangerous, we think 
it's unsafe, we think it undermines our current treatment system," Taft 
said at the news conference. "So we're going to fight it with everything 
within our power, and we're going to defeat it."

Billionaires John Sperling - founder of the University of Phoenix - New 
York philanthropist George Soros and Ohio insurance executive Peter Lewis 
have spent millions backing ballot initiatives that they say collectively 
amount to a referendum on the drug war.

Taft's own re-election campaign has yet to heat up, as the governor 
maintains a wide lead over Democratic challenger Tim Hagan.

Earlier this month, the Ohio Poll, sponsored and conducted by the 
University of Cincinnati, found that Ohio voters gave 55 percent of their 
support to Taft, who is seeking a second four-year term on Nov. 5, while 32 
percent gave their support to Hagan in his first run for statewide office.

Political analyst Melanie Blumberg said she believes voters are far more 
interested in the economy and education issues this fall than the drug issue.

She pointed out that Taft is defying common political wisdom by taking a 
prominent stand on an issue when he could easily sit back and do nothing 
because of his high poll numbers.

"It could be he's trying to be assertive because there's been so much 
criticism that he doesn't have leadership qualities," Blumberg said. "Maybe 
he feels passionate about this issue and it's something he feels he can 
take a stand on."

Taft's strong stance has nothing to do with his own political style and 
everything to do with an issue he and the first lady have long been 
concerned about, said Taft campaign spokesman Orest Holubec.

"I don't think an elected official with 98 percent name ID is concerned 
about whether or not this will raise his profile," Holubec said.
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