Pubdate: Wed, 28 Dec 2005
Source: Yakima Herald-Republic (WA)
Copyright: 2005 Yakima Herald-Republic
Contact:  http://www.yakima-herald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/511
Author: Lia Steakley
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

UNION GAP RESIDENTS CLAIM DELAY IN DRUG TESTS

UNION GAP -- Some residents is this small town wonder  what's taking 
so long for elected officials to complete  voluntary drug tests.

"If they were serious about showing us that they had it  together, 
then they would have done it all at once. But  them lingering gives 
the appearance that they are  cleaning something out of their 
system," said Union Gap  resident and activist Andrea Vasquez.

Mayor Aubrey Reeves gave council members the option  last week of 
taking a voluntary drug test at the city's  expense. His offer came 
after Councilman Dale Glaspey's  Dec. 13 arrest for allegedly selling 
cocaine to an  informant.

"Some (council members) asked me to make it available  because they 
didn't want to be labeled as drug users,"  Reeves said.

Testing is being offered at Valley Medi-Center in Union  Gap. The 
cost is $42.50 per test or $340 for all seven  council members and the mayor.

To date only three elected officials -- Reeves and  Councilmen Jim 
Lemon and Glenn Bateman -- have taken  urine tests. So far Lemon is 
the only one to receive  his results, which showed he's clean.

The remaining council members support the idea of drug  testing for 
elected officials and all say they plan on  being tested this week.

"I think it's a great thing, and it's long overdue. If  we expect our 
employees to do it, then we should be  doing it," said Councilman 
Dave Butler, who planned on  taking his test this week.

Councilmen Roger Wentz and Dan Vanover say they have  recently taken 
drug tests for employment purposes and  offered to either submit 
those records or retake the  tests.

Many city officials agree any council member testing  positive for 
drug use should step down.

"If a person is found doing drugs, then they should  have to step 
down," said Councilwoman Toni Web. "That's  not what representing 
your city is all about."

Vasquez and Lemon are also questioning the method of  reporting the 
results of city officials' tests.

Lemon chose to have his original test result report to  City Hall and 
have a copy mailed to his home. But  Reeves said each elected 
official gets to decide where  the test results are sent. In 
addition, it's unclear if  the test results can be requested as 
public documents  by residents.

"What if a council member comes up dirty? Does it get  swept under 
the rug?" asks Vasquez. "There needs to be  some sort of board or 
person responsible for looking  over the results."

Elected officials can't be required to take random drug  tests, and 
if a voluntary tests shows drug use, there  are no clear provisions 
for penalties, said Pat Mason,  legal counsel for the Municipal 
Research Service  Center, the Seattle-based nonprofit that 
provides  resources for local governments.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom