Pubdate: Wed, 09 Apr 2003
Source: Jefferson City News Tribune (MO)
Copyright: 2003 Jefferson City News Tribune
Contact:  http://www.newstribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/845
Author: Scott Charton
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

COLUMBIA VOTERS REJECT MARIJUANA PROPOSITION 

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) -- A proposition to soften penalties for marijuana
possession and allow pot by prescription in this college town was rejected
by voters Tuesday.

With all votes counted, Boone County Clerk Wendy Noren said nearly 58
percent opposed Proposition 1. Vote counting was slowed by a problem
requiring late-night inspection by hand of ballots in an unrelated county
race, she said.

Proposition 1, placed on the ballot by petition, would have made Columbia
the only place in Missouri where medical marijuana was declared legal for
the seriously ill.

Nine states and several local governments have approved the practice of
prescribing marijuana, amid legal challenges from the federal government.

The Bush administration, while asserting it wasn't telling residents how to
vote, sent a representative to Columbia last week to proclaim the White
House's condemnation of marijuana use.

Anthony Johnson, the University of Missouri-Columbia law student who
spearheaded the campaign for Proposition 1, criticized the White House for
getting involved in a local campaign.

"Using taxpayer funds to affect a local election is not appropriate, and the
Bush administration managed to create confusion about the proposal," Johnson
said at a glum election watch party.

The sentencing section would require that arrests for possession of less
than 35 grams of marijuana within the city be handled in municipal rather
than circuit court.

Boosters of Proposition 1 said the sentencing language would spare college
students from a permanent criminal record for pot possession -- and protect
their federal student aid, which may be yanked because of drug convictions.

Municipal convictions for possession of less than 35 grams -- an amount
critics said would yield several joints -- would only be punishable by
fines, not jail time. The maximum fine would be $500 for the fourth and
subsequent offenses.

The campaign for Proposition 1 drew relatively sizable funding from national
groups advocating marijuana's decriminalization. The proponents' campaign
treasurer said Tuesday that about $30,000 had been raised for phone banks,
advertising and polling, among other expenses.

Opponents relied on word-of-mouth and never set up a formal campaign
committee. Law enforcement officials said Proposition 1 would remove their
discretion in cases where a known drug dealer facing multiple counts could
be charged and sentenced more harshly.

In other election issues across Missouri, voters chose new civic leaders and
many supported funding for school improvements.

The future of downtown Branson hinged on the mayor's race in the southwest
Missouri resort town, which incumbent Lou Schaefer won despite a strong
challenge from Ray Wilson.

According to unofficial results, Schaefer received 634 votes, or 46 percent.
Wilson was close behind with 545 votes, or 39 percent. Larry Milton received
149 votes, or 10 percent.

Schaefer, 75, advocated a convention center and recreational complex built
on the Lake Taneycomo waterfront downtown.

Wilson, 64, argued that city leaders had handled the waterfront development
poorly. He said leaders should settle a lawsuit filed by an Australian
company that claims to be the legitimate developer before moving ahead.

Milton, 45, supported thorough studies to make sure the city could
financially support a development and handle increased traffic.

Springfield Mayor Tom Carlson ran unopposed, and other mayoral winners
included Barbara Helvey in Strafford, Jimmie Beckner in Buffalo, Leon Harris
in Ava, John Rhodes in Branson West, Rusty Reed in Exeter, Duane Corn in
Seligman and Scott Young in Washburn.

In Greene County, voters overwhelmingly approved a $30 million bond issue
proposed by the Springfield Public Schools that included no tax hike. The
money will be used to air-condition schools, renovate a high school and
build a new school in growing southwest Springfield. The measure received
the support of 78 percent of voters, according to unofficial results.

The proposal does not raise taxes because the district saved $2 million by
refinancing a 2000 bond issue for a lower interest rate, also reducing the
time required to pay off the debt by three years.

Voters in Willard also approved a school bond issue. The $19.6 million will
be used to build a high school for 1,700 students. A facilities committee
said the school was needed to ease overcrowding in Willard's five other
schools. The measure passed with 62 percent of the vote, according to
unofficial results.

Multimillion dollar bond issues to build new high schools also passed in the
Ozark and Hollister school districts. Voters also approved bond issues to
build or renovate school buildings in Monett and Miller.

In St. Louis, a field of 18 candidates -- from a former St. Louis mayor to a
mother of 12 children -- vied for four openings on the city's school board.

St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay and other civic leaders had backed a slate of
four candidates: former mayor Vincent Schoemehl, Barnes-Jewish Hospital
administrator Darnetta Clinkscale, child advocate Ron Jackson and Missouri
Historical Society president Robert Archibald. In partial returns, the
entire slate was on track to win the four openings.

A $2 billion revenue bond issue to improve Lambert Airport and a $120
million bond issue to air condition up to 35 additional city schools over
the next four years also were expected to win approval.

The mayor's race in the St. Louis suburb of Jennings heated up in recent
weeks after someone sent out postcards pointing out that whites hold the top
municipal jobs in a community that's about 85 percent black.

"Your masters at City Hall must believe black people like living on
plantations," the mailings read, in part.

Mayor Ben Sutphin, who is white, was re-elected with 1,235 votes, or 56
percent of the vote, according to unofficial results. Councilman Ted Wright
Jr., one of two black challengers, received 921 votes, or 42 percent.
Solomon Rooks, whom Sutphin defeated to win when Sutphin first took the
mayor's office in 1995, received 63 votes.
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