Pubdate: Thu, 23 Dec 2004
Source: Arizona Republic (AZ)
Copyright: 2004 The Arizona Republic
Contact:  http://www.arizonarepublic.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/24
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)

EX-ADDICT GETS HELP FROM TEMPE MAYOR

The East Valley Political Insider offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse
at government and politics in Chandler, Ahwatukee Foothills, Tempe,
Gilbert, Mesa, Apache Junction, Queen Creek and Pinal County.

Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman recently went to rehab.

No, not to seek help for his bad jokes. He went to support the
self-proclaimed Mill Avenue food critic Dennnis Skolnick.
advertisement

Skolnick recently celebrated two years of sobriety after being
addicted to crack for years.

He was arrested on Mill Avenue in Tempe in 2001 for selling marijuana
to an undercover officer, served several months in jail and then was
released to a Phoenix halfway house. Since his release, he's been back
on Mill Avenue writing and distributing his free food review
newsletters and telling jokes.

Skolnick said it was Hallman who took him to lunch after he got out of
jail and helped him move into the halfway house.

"He's been there from the beginning," he said.

Hallman said it's important to him to support Skolnick's
success.

"It's very hard for people to get through drug addiction, especially
in the non-supportive way our society does it," Hallman said. "Dennis
is a great example of someone who worked very hard to overcome an
addiction that is very difficult to overcome and that's worth
supporting."

Skolnick said he is proud of himself, saying that 2 percent of crack
addicts are able to stay clean.
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MAP posted-by: Derek