Washington

TROY WOMAN IS PICKED TO HELP FIGHT DRUG WAR

President George W. Bush has tapped a Troy woman to be a top lieutenant in
the war on drugs.

The White House on Monday announced the selection of Mary Ann Solberg to be
the deputy director of the White House Office of National Drug Control
Policy, home to the nation's drug czar.

Solberg, 59, is the executive director of the Troy Community Coalition, a
nonprofit organization made up of business, government and community
leaders that seeks to reduce drug and alcohol use by teenagers. She also
heads the Coalition of Healthy Communities, a regional antidrug group.

Solberg said it was hard to leave the coalition. "I love this program. I
will miss it very much," she said.

If the Senate confirms her nomination, Solberg will report to Bush's choice
for drug czar, Nolan Walters. Walters, also a Michigan native, has come
under fire by some for emphasizing long jail terms for drug abusers over
prevention and treatment.

During her 10 years at the Troy coalition, Solberg focused on treatment for
drug addicts and discouraging teens from trying drugs.