Pubdate: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 Source: Houston Chronicle (TX) Copyright: 1999 Houston Chronicle Contact: Viewpoints Editor, P.O. Box 4260 Houston, Texas 77210-4260 Fax: (713) 220-3575 Website: http://www.chron.com/ Forum: http://www.chron.com/content/hcitalk/index.html Author: Julie Mason and Steve Brewer DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S RACE LURES A DEMOCRAT One Democrat so far has signed up for a March primary berth in the Harris County district attorney's race: former Wise County Attorney Stephen Hale, who now is working for a local courier service. Hale said Monday that he dismissed more than 500 misdemeanor possession of marijuana cases while serving as Wise county attorney from 1993 to 1996, "because it was the right thing to do." Hale said his stance cost him re-election in 1996. Subsequently, during a 1998 campaign for Denton County district attorney, he was arrested on charges of delivery of marijuana. Eventually, Hale said, he withdrew his plea of guilty in the case and the judge dismissed the indictment. He said the State Bar of Texas suspended his law license until October 2000, one month before the election. Hall said his campaign is a repudiation of prevailing drug policy, which he said punishes the perpetrators of victimless crimes that do not endanger the community. "I don't really think I'll win, but the way I see it, it's an issue that needs to be addressed," Hale said. - --- MAP posted-by: Don Beck