Pubdate: Thu, 05 Sep 2002 Source: Dallas Morning News (TX) Webpage: www.dallasnews.com/politics/statenews/stories/090502dntexsanchez.b9fc8.html Copyright: 2002 The Dallas Morning News Contact: http://www.dallasnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/117 Author: Associated Press Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/tulia.htm (Tulia, Texas) SANCHEZ: TULIA CASE ISN'T AN ISSUE Don't Politicize Drug Sting, He Says; Cornyn Defends Inquiry TULIA, Texas - Democrat Tony Sanchez said Wednesday that candidates should not try to politicize a local narcotics sting that state and federal authorities are investigating. "It's improper for anybody running for office to politicize this issue," the gubernatorial contender said in response to a question after speaking to about 100 people in downtown Tulia. Mr. Sanchez, a Laredo businessman trying to oust GOP Gov. Rick Perry, did not discuss the disputed 1999 drug bust in his remarks, but mentioned that the Panhandle town has faced national scrutiny because of allegations that the arrests were racially motivated. "It's an extremely serious issue, and I'm glad the attorney general has gotten involved. I hope and pray we have a good resolution to the problem." Forty-three people, all but six of them black, were indicted in connection with the July 1999 drug sting. Of those arrested, 11 were found guilty and 17 others accepted plea agreements. Appeals of numerous convictions are continuing, and civil rights groups have protested the Tulia bust, raising questions about how the state's drug task forces conduct investigations. Last week, Attorney General John Cornyn, the Republican nominee for the Senate, announced his office would conduct a state investigation. Mr. Cornyn, who previously had declined to order an examination of the 1999 sting, said he was concerned that a federal inquiry was bogged down. The federal investigation, which is being handled by the Justice Department's civil rights division, remains open. Mr. Cornyn faces Democrat Ron Kirk, who has said the attorney general should have acted sooner. "The attorney general sat on his hands until it became a national embarrassment," Mr. Kirk said last week. Mr. Cornyn rejected that, and said Tuesday on a campaign stop in Lubbock that politics was not a factor in his decision to launch the state investigation. "I would probably be criticized if I did nothing," Mr. Cornyn said. "I would probably be criticized for what I've done, and I chose to simply to do my duty as I see it." Ray Sullivan, a Perry spokesman, said it appears that most candidates in Texas agree that Mr. Cornyn is exercising the right leadership by investigating the incident. "As a result, it will not be a campaign issue," Mr. Sullivan said. Mr. Cornyn said representatives of his office will go before a House legislative committee Friday to provide details of how the investigation will be handled. Many of the cases against those charged were based solely on the testimony of Officer Tom Coleman, who said he spent 18 months working undercover to make the drug cases, which resulted in the arrests of more than 10 percent of the town's black population. Mr. Coleman, who is no longer in law enforcement, worked alone and used no audio or video surveillance. Little or no corroborating evidence was introduced during the trials. Mr. Coleman was charged with theft and abuse of power during the investigation. The charges against him were later dropped. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth