Pubdate: Mon, 29 Jul 2002
Source: Silver City Daily Press & Independent (NM)
Copyright: 2002 Silver City Daily Press
Contact:  http://www.thedailypress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/944
Author: James Lee
Note: Title by Newshawk

CHANGE THE WAY ANTI-DRUG ENFORCEMENT IS CONDUCTED

Dear editor,

I would like to apologize for my delay in responding to David Seymour's 
letter posing questions to county sheriff candidates. I have been on active 
duty with the New Mexico National Guard Homeland Defense Antiterrorism 
Detail, and am currently in school at Fort McCoy, Wis. I will end my 
temporary active duty on July 25 and settle down to campaigning for Grant 
County sheriff.

With regard to Mr. Seymour's letter, I have a published platform that 
addresses most, if not all, of his concerns.

My intent is to change the way anti-drug enforcement is conducted to effect 
a far more immediate arrest than the current way it is being done. I 
believe a change in the way we do counter-narcotics is essential because 
the way it is done now isn't working, and hasn't worked.

I will implement a program allowing for house arrest of people convicted of 
nonviolent misdemeanor crimes and a work detail that will cause them to pay 
their debt to society instead of being a burden. This will act as a 
deterrent, save the county the jail cost, and leave room for other 
lawbreaking offenders.

I am committed to rural community policing with implementation of a 
neighborhood patrol program that has been proven to be so effective at 
reducing or preventing residential crime in recent years. This is a 
relatively new idea, but it is proven and works.

I have substantial budget experience as an administrator and manager. I 
can, with pride, say I have administered multimillion-dollar budgets and 
have always remained within budget. I have several years' experience in 
executive management to contribute to this office; experience that is badly 
needed right now.

I am military trained in current anti-terrorism (techniques and 
intelligence) with thorough knowledge of policy and procedures that will be 
and are implemented by the state and federal governments. I have additional 
training in crisis victims assistance from the National Organization of 
Victim Assistance. Both of these will serve our county should they become 
necessary. (I pray they will never be needed.) I know who to contact, who 
has what resources, and who is lead agency for those activities.

I hope this answers some of the questions posed. My e-mail address is  should any of your readers have issues or questions they 
want answered.

(s)James Lee

Candidate for sheriff

Fort McCoy, Wis.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom