Pubdate: Thu, 16 Sep 2004
Source: New York Post ( NY )
Copyright: 2004 N.Y.P.  Holdings, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.nypost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/296
Author: Kenneth Lovett, Post Correspondent
Cited: Drug Policy Alliance Network http://www.drugpolicy.org/about/
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?140 (Rockefeller Drug Laws)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/soros.htm (Soros, George)

SOROS' $$ TOPPLES DA IN WAR OVER DRUGS

ALBANY -- In an unusual infusion of big money into local upstate politics, 
billionaire George Soros poured cash into the Albany County district 
attorney's race -- and engineered a stunning defeat of the incumbent 
because the DA supports the strict Rockefeller drug laws.

The Soros-founded Drug Policy Alliance Network -- which favors repeal of 
the Rockefeller laws -- contributed at least $81,500 to the Working 
Families Party, which turned around and supported the successful Democratic 
primary campaign of David Soares.

Trying to become Albany's first black DA, Soares on Tuesday unexpectedly 
trounced his former boss, incumbent Albany DA Paul Clyne, who has opposed 
changing the drug laws. The victory was overwhelming: Soares took 62 
percent of the Democratic vote.

"This was more than a local race, that's what the [Soros] funding shows," 
said Assemblyman John McEneny, who supported the challenger's candidacy.

Soros, an international financier and philanthropist who says he is 
dedicating his life to defeating President Bush, favors legalizing some drugs.

Clyne backers claim that the Working Families Party, using the Soros money, 
illegally involved itself in the Democratic primary. They charge the Soros 
cash was used to target Democratic voters with mass mailings and phone 
calls labeling Clyne as the reason the drug laws were not reformed, as well 
as highlighting his anti-abortion stance.

"A drug-legalization group funds the race for district attorney -- that's 
kind of scary. And some of the public bought it," said a disappointed 
Clyne, who is still on the November ballot on the Independence Party line.

Soares also received some $25,000 from an array of high-profile 
out-of-towners supporting drug-law reform, including former U.S. Sen. Bob 
Kerrey, Seagram CEO Edgar Bronfman Jr. and music executive Jason Flom.

"This was a very well-organized effort run out of New York City," said 
Albany Mayor Gerald Jennings, a Clyne supporter. "Why would they be 
interested in an Albany County district-attorney race?"

Working Families Executive Director Dan Cantor denied his party directly 
involved itself in the Democratic primary. But he argued that his liberal 
party has every right to promote its candidate since Soares is also running 
on the Working Family Party's line in the November general election.

A spokesman for Soros, Michael Vachon, said that while the billionaire 
supports reforming the drug laws, his involvement in the Albany DA race was 
limited to funding the Drug Policy Alliance Network. That group's executive 
director, Ethan Nadelmann, said he briefly discussed with Soros the 
network's involvement in the DA race several weeks ago, and sent him a note 
Tuesday night telling him of the outcome.

All told, Soares spent more than $125,000 on the primary, while Clyne said 
his spending will have exceeded $100,000.

Nadelmann said that the Soares victory raises the possibility that the 
Soros-backed organization will spend even more money on races involving 
other DAs in New York who oppose Rockefeller drug-law reform.

"All 'lock-'em-up, throw-away-the-key' DAs should take notice of what just 
happened to Paul Clyne," Nadelmann said. "There will be consequences for 
people who advocate inhumane and ineffective laws."

While the Soros family has already donated more than $15 million to get rid 
of President Bush, it has also turned its attention to New York politics.

The Post recently reported that Soros' son, Robert, and his wife, Melissa 
Schiff Soros, donated $100,000 to state Senate Democrats.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake