Pubdate: Thu, 14 Mar 2002 Source: Albuquerque Tribune (NM) Copyright: 2002 The Albuquerque Tribune Contact: http://www.abqtrib.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/11 Author: Gilbert Gallegos, Tribune Reporter DRUG DEBATE MIGHT HURT THE BUZZ AT GOP PARTY A potential battle over the state Republican Party platform is shaping up over opposition to the governor's drug-reform efforts. And some delegates think the issue could steal the thunder from they party's main mission during its pre-primary - choosing candidates for the June 4 primary election. About 681 Republican delegates will meet Saturday in Socorro for the party's pre-primary convention. Aside from choosing candidates, the party will vote on changes to its platform. A committee of GOP leaders that was formed to draft a new platform included a new "controlled substances" plank this year that spells out the party's opposition to the legalization of drugs. But a vocal group of Republicans who oppose Gov. Gary Johnson's drug-reform agenda wants the platform to make clear that the GOP also opposes efforts to decriminalize drugs. Frank Gorham III of Albuquerque said he proposed the change, in part, so Republicans can hold GOP candidates and party leaders to a specific standard when it comes to supporting or opposing efforts to ease drug laws. The Bernalillo County Republican Party endorsed the new language, said Gorham, the county party's former chairman. Several Republican leaders, including Johnson, state party Chairman John Dendahl and National Committeeman Mickey Barnett, have supported efforts to change drug laws. Johnson has led the drive to change drug laws. He proposed legislation, for example, that would have decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana and legalized the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Gorham said Johnson, Dendahl and Barnett went against the position of most Republicans when they embraced the drug-reform agenda. "They said they weren't in violation of the Republican Party platform by doing that," Gorham said. "Well, we're trying to make sure that little episode doesn't happen again." The party's platform committee is finalizing the document, which will be presented to the delegates Saturday. A handful of county parties have also suggested changes to the drug plank, Dendahl said. Do a Ana County suggested language that is similar to Gorham's proposed change. Sandoval County suggested language that used to be in the crime plank, such as support for "swift and sure punishment," including embracing the death penalty. Dendahl said the Santa Fe County party voted for the drug plank, but left out the sentence opposing legalization of drugs. Dendahl said the debate over the drug plank is meant to take a swipe at the governor and to stop party leaders from talking about the issue. A similar fight broke out last year before Dendahl was re-elected to serve as the party chairman. Dendahl was admonished in 2001 by party leaders, including U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, for offering his support to Johnson's drug-reform agenda in the Legislature. Domenici, an Albuquerque Republican, had asked Dendahl to resign. But Domenici later changed his mind after Dendahl agreed not to use his position in the party to advocate for changes in drug laws. Dendahl said Wednesday that he's honored that pledge, although some legislators nevertheless are concerned the chairman continues to speak out in favor of new drug laws. Dendahl said he will not back down from his opinions, or refuse to answer questions about his stance on drugs. "There's no such thing as putting a muzzle on me," Dendahl said. Dendahl said he thinks the issue will play out Saturday without much of a fight. "I think we can have a real donnybrook down there if people on each side of that argument really cared a huge amount about what the platform says," he said, referring to the drug plank. Dendahl admitted that opponents like Gorham are adamant about the issue. "But I don't get a sense that anybody else cares," Dendahl said. State Rep. Rob Burpo, one of five Republican candidates for governor, said the drug debate should be an issue at the convention and during the primary campaign. In a letter sent earlier this month to convention delegates, Burpo, a Northeast Heights Republican, highlighted his opposition to the governor's stance on drugs. "Unfortunately, the drug legalization debate our party leaders have foisted upon us diverts us from uniting around and championing all the good that Governor Johnson has done for New Mexico," Burpo wrote. Despite Johnson's achievements during two terms as governor, Burpo wrote that the "drug legalization issue hangs over us today like a dark cloud." Other gubernatorial candidates have taken different approaches to supporting or opposing the governor's drug-reform agenda. State Rep. John Sanchez, a North Valley Republican, has said he opposed Johnson's drug bills in the Legislature. But Sanchez says he will not use his opposition to make a political point. Lt. Gov. Walter Bradley, a West Side Republican, has also said he opposes some of Johnson's ideas about drugs. But Bradley said he welcomes the governor's debate over drug laws. Former talk show host Larry Ahrens, another GOP candidate for governor, takes a hard line against some of Johnson's drug views, according to his Web site. For example, Ahrens opposes a 2001 law, which Johnson proposed, that created a state-funded needle-exchange program. But Ahrens also writes that he supports the decriminalization of small amounts of marijuana, in some cases, and allowing doctors and patients to decide whether marijuana should be used to treat side effects of some illnesses. The final GOP candidate, retired Brig. Gen. Gilbert Baca, could not be reached Wednesday about his position on drugs. - --- MAP posted-by: Alex