Pubdate: Fri, 24 Oct 2008
Source: Central Florida Future (U of Central Florida, FL Edu)
Copyright: 2008 Central Florida Future
Contact: http://www.centralfloridafuture.com/home/lettertotheeditor/
Website: http://www.centralfloridafuture.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3300
Author: Stephanie de Sousa
Cited: National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
http://www.norml.org/
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

DEMINGS SPEAKS AT NORML MEETING

Orange County Sheriff candidate Jerry Demings shared his stance on
violent crime prevention, marijuana crimes and his experiences with
drugs and law enforcement at the National Organization for the Reform
of Marijuana Laws meeting in the Student Union on Wednesday.

Demings said that speaking to NORML hit a personal note because his
brother died from drug addiction.

"With me, it's personal," Demings said.

Demings said he worked with narcotics in law enforcement and has seen
the devastation of drug addiction on other families as well.

About 40 students, most of whom raised their hands when asked if they
were registered to vote, attended the meeting for the UCF chapter of
NORML to hear Demings speak.

Demings told the students about himself and spent a majority of his
time answering questions by students who asked about his stance on
their platform - reforming marijuana laws.

When asked if he would put misdemeanor marijuana offenses to the
lowest priority if elected, student Renee Lemieux said, "He danced
around the issue instead of giving a straight answer."

Demings said that a sheriff's job is to uphold the law, and only
legislators can create them. He also said that we live in a democracy,
and if the citizens wanted to legalize marijuana, then he would uphold
the law if elected sheriff.

Demings, a Democrat, is running against Republican John Tegg for
Orange County sheriff in the general election. Demings has 27 years of
experience in law enforcement in Orange County, and served as Orlando
police chief and director of public safety for Orange County.

Demings also advocated proactive measures toward violent crime
prevention, such as getting programs into schools that can help
prevent gang violence.

Tegg, who served as police chief for the Edgewater area, has worked
with the Orange County Sheriff's Office since he had an internship
while still attending UCF in 1975. He graduated with a bachelor's
degree in criminal justice and a master's in public
administration.

The two candidates faced off at a debate at UCF last
week.

Tegg canceled his appearance at the previous NORML meeting on Oct. 8.
He sent an e-mail stating that something came up that he had to take
care of.

Alumnus Justin Martineau said Demings' visit helped him to decide his
vote.

Martineau said Demings had an impact on him when he said he was
willing to work with the American Civil Liberties Union on training
officers to understand the roots of crime and especially to help
prevent police brutality.

"With the right kind of training, those things can be prevented,"
Martineau said.

The next sheriff would be responsible for millions of dollars in
taxpayer money. Demings said, if elected, his job would be to "ensure
that we do not waste that money." Demings recalled his first job in
accounting, but said he was bored with it and accepted a challenge to
take the entrance exam for the Orlando Police Department.

The candidate described his background and said he comes from a poor
family whose mother cleaned houses and father drove a cab until he was
in his late '80s.

"Sometimes when you're poor you work harder," Demings said. "There
were people in my life who exposed me to what and who I could be."

Demings said one of his actions if elected sheriff would be to try to
give young people the resources to help prevent gang violence and
violent crimes, his top priority, he said.

When asked if the D.A.R.E. program, a drug prevention program for
fifth graders in public schools, has been successful, Demings answered
no. Instead, he advocated the Super Kids program, which reaches out to
kids at earlier ages and includes family life and character education.

NORML awarded Demings with an honorary membership and Drug War Facts,
a book edited by Douglas McVay which the students signed.

"I really hope he opens the book," Lemieux said.?
- ---
MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin