>Sender: >To: >X-Original-Message-ID: <001e01bf1829$ef5edac0$9acf69cf@pacbell.net> >From: "Peter McWilliams" >Subject: Yahoo! The shit hits the fan in New Mexico. >Date: Sat, 16 Oct 1999 15:58:17 -0700 >X-Mozilla-Status: 8001 >X-Mozilla-Status2: 00000000 > > >Pubdate: October 14, 1999 >Source: Santa Fe New Mexican (NM) >Copyright: 1999 The Santa Fe New Mexican >Contact: letters@sfnewmexican.com >Address: 202 E Marcy, Santa Fe, N.M. 87501 >Fax: (505) 986-3040 >Feedback: http://www.sfnewmexican.com/letterstoeditor/submitform.las >Website: http://www.sfnewmexican.com/ >Author: Nancy Plevin, The New Mexican >Note: Staff writer Kim Baca and The Associated Press contributed to this >report. >MAP's: Topical News Shortcut for Gov. Johnson items: >http://www.mapinc.org/johnson.htm > >SHERIFF SAYS JOHNSON SHOULD STEP DOWN > >Santa Fe County Sheriff Ray Sisneros angrily called for Gov. Gary Johnson's >resignation Wednesday, saying the Republican leader's campaign for >legalization of drugs, including heroin, "is giving the wrong impression to >the young people." > >"That is such an irresponsible position that I think the idiot should >resign," Sisneros, a Democrat, said in a telephone interview. "He ought to >go to Las Vegas (state hospital) for a psychiatric evaluation, or claim >mental disability and let the lieutenant governor take over." > >Neither the governor nor Lt. Gov. Walter Bradley could be reached for >comment. > >Sisneros said his ire wasn't sparked by partisan politics but by questions >his deputies are fielding from youngsters as a result of the governor's >position, such as, "Are you guys going to quit enforcing drug laws?" > >Sisneros made the comments on the same day about two dozen other sheriffs >and police chiefs from around the state gathered at the Albuquerque Police >Academy to announce their opposition to Johnson's drug-legalization stance. > >"The biggest concern is what we are telling our kids when the governor >says, 'Hey, it's going to be legal and it's OK.' It's not OK," Albuquerque >Police Chief Joe Galvin said at the news conference. > >Roswell Police Chief Richard Campbell said he was not attacking Johnson >personally, but "I do think the governor was irresponsible when he said >smoking marijuana is cool" recently to a group of Washington, D.C., college >students. > >Johnson has been speaking widely - including appearances on national TV - >in support of legalization, calling the nation's drug war "a miserable >failure" and saying most people use drugs responsibly and shouldn't be >penalized. He also has expressed doubts about the effectiveness of >substance-abuse treatment. > >While castigating Johnson, members of the law enforcement group praised his >public safety secretary, Darren White, for saying the governor's position >is hurting the morale and credibility of New Mexico officers. > >Sandoval County Sheriff Ray Rivera, chairman of the Johnson's >drug-enforcement council, said police now "catch hell" from drug dealers >who argue that their activity is condoned by the governor. > >And district attorneys are telling police that the governor's comments are >being used as a criminal defense in court, Rivera said. > >Santa Fe Police Chief John Denko said he would have liked to attend the >news conference but couldn't. > >"He is very misguided," Denko said about the governor. > >Sisneros said that when Johnson began his current campaign by talking about >a need for discussion on whether marijuana should be decriminalized, "that >was fine." But a call for legalizing heroin and cocaine indicates "a >chemical imbalance" in the governor. > >In addition, Sisneros said, "All this is taking so much of our time, as law >enforcement administrators, that it cuts into our time for other stuff that >is more productive." > >On Tuesday, the Santa Fe County Commission unanimously passed a resolution >asking the governor to take a leadership role in combating drug use, abuse >and addiction. The resolution also asks Johnson to visit county >rehabilitation programs and the jail to learn about heroin and marijuana >use. > >"Gov. Gary Johnson's public statements favoring the legalization of >marijuana and heroin use are blatant misdirection of the problem ... and >show a lack of knowledge and sensitivity to the problem in his own state," >the resolution says. > >Commission Chairman Joe Grine said: "Here we are trying to find a solution >to fight this problem and the governor is conveying a message that it's OK, >there is nothing wrong with it. I'm not trying fight with the governor. I'm >just trying to get him to acknowledge that what he says has a big impact, >especially on adolescents." > >In addition, Santa Fe City Councilor Peso Chavez has said he plans to >introduce a resolution this month denouncing Johnson's drug stance as >"irresponsible, thoughtless and careless." > >He said the governor has done a disservice to parents, teachers and others >who are trying to help children make wise decisions about drug use. > >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >Pubdate: Thu, 14 Oct 1999 >Source: Albuquerque Journal (NM) >Copyright: 1999 Albuquerque Journal >Contact: opinion@abqjournal.com >Address: P.O. Drawer J, Albuquerque, N.M. 87103 >Website: http://www.abqjournal.com/ >MAP's: Topical News Shortcut for Gov. Johnson items: >http://www.mapinc.org/johnson.htm > >OFFICER GROUPS CALL FOR DRUG DEBATE > >The head of the New Mexico Police Chiefs Association said Wednesday his >group wants to publicly debate Gov. Gary Johnson on whether legalizing >drugs is a good idea. > >"We're willing to sit down anytime he is," said Grants Police Chief Fred >Radosevich, president of the group, which has about 80 members from around >the state. > >Radosevich said Johnson "hasn't sat down with anyone in New Mexico to >discuss it. The chiefs association is going to send him a letter saying >we're more than willing to discuss the issues with him." > >Radosevich also said he believes Johnson's message -- which includes >support for legalizing drugs such as marijuana and heroin and a warning >that drugs are nonetheless a bad choice -- is "confusing to the kids." He >said he's talked about Johnson's opinions with his own teen-age son. > >"I'm telling him (drugs are) a deadly issue," Radosevich said. "Thank God >he believes me -- I hope." > >Diane Kinderwater, a spokeswoman for Johnson, did not say later Wednesday >whether Johnson would debate the association. But she said groups like it >will have a chance to speak their views at other forums that are being >planned. > >"Gov. Johnson brought this out because he feels this whole country (should) >be debating this issue," Kinderwater said. She said the chiefs association >"isn't the first" to ask for a debate, and "there's going to be plenty of >opportunity for debate in the future." > >Radosevich talked about a possible debate after members of his group, the >New Mexico Sheriffs and Police Association and the state Sheriffs >Association met at the Albuquerque Police Department training academy. > >Members said Johnson's opinions on drugs were a big part of their >discussion. And they gathered after the meeting to give this message: > >Drugs still are illegal in New Mexico, no matter what Johnson's opinions >are. And police and sheriff's deputies across the state will continue to >enforce the law. > >"We are united in our efforts to combat drugs in the state of New Mexico," >said Bernalillo County Sheriff Joe Bowdich, president of the sheriffs and >police association. > >Albuquerque Police Chief Jerry Galvin added that officers are "dedicated to >enforcing the laws -- from the patrol officer all the way up to the chief." >He added that "When you say we should legalize (drugs), what message does >it send? That it's OK." > >Kinderwater reiterated that Johnson believes drugs are "a bad choice, but >people should not be put in prison for a bad choice." > > > >================================================================ > >This message is sent to you because you are subscribed to > the mailing list . >To unsubscribe, E-mail to: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------