GODBEY GETS HELP IN CHALLENGE TO DENDAHL

Rep. Ron Godbey has help from former legislators as he tries to overthrow
John Dendahl as the state Republican Party chairman.

Former Rep. Richard Cheney is organizing the GOP troops on Godbey's behalf
in Farmington; former Rep. J. Andy Kissner is laying the anti-Dendahl
groundwork in Las Cruces; and former Sen. Billy McKibben is using his
political sway to pitch for votes in southeastern New Mexico.

Cheney, Kissner and McKibben, like Godbey, are Republicans who are
disenchanted with Dendahl's iron-fisted leadership style.

Kissner felt Dendahl's wrath in 2000 when Republicans helped arrange his
defeat for sometimes voting with Democrats.

Godbey, a 66-year-old retired U.S. Air Force colonel, said he is
challenging Dendahl based on one fact: Godbey is opposed to the chairman's
high-profile support of Gov. Gary Johnson's push to decriminalize marijuana.

Godbey, who is serving his third year in the House, represents a district
in the Northeast Heights.

But Godbey's 11th-hour challenge to Dendahl is on shaky ground, some
Republicans said, because he has less than a week until Saturday's
Republican Party Central Committee meeting in Socorro.

"Since this is the first I've heard of it, I don't think it's a very
serious challenge," said Ken Zangara, the newly elected chairman of the
Bernalillo County Republican Party.

Dendahl, on the other hand, has been preparing for a fight for two months.
The dynamic and sometimes controversial party leader even has a re-election
campaign manager, Pat Killen, to help him secure a fourth two-year term.

"I'm pretty sure, in talking with people who are working with me, that I
know who my supporters are and who my opponents are," Dendahl said. "And my
supporters substantially outnumber my opponents."

Dendahl said he will not bring up drug reform at Saturday's organizational
meeting of the GOP.

Godbey has been the most vocal critic of Johnson's drug-reform efforts. He
said he is not convinced Dendahl will ever get off the drug-reform
bandwagon, despite promises to keep his role as chairman separate from his
views on drugs.

After butting heads over the drug issue with U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, an
Albuquerque Republican, Dendahl said he would no longer actively seek out
forums to talk about drugs.

Dendahl's toned-down rhetoric helped repair the relationship he has with
Domenici and other top Republicans. But Godbey said Dendahl hasn't changed
his stripes.

Godbey said Dendahl's defiance of the Republican Party's platform, which
favors cutting drug supplies and stiffer prison time for drug offenders,
helped him decided to run for the GOP's top position.

"To me it is extremely improper to use that office to promote the
legalization of drugs, contrary to the platform of the Republican Party,"
Godbey said.

Dendahl said he supports Johnson's effort to decriminalize the possession
of small amounts of marijuana. But Dendahl added he is not on board with
the governor's general push to legalize some drugs, including marijuana.

Cheney, who is also running for the second vice chairman's position,
predicted a close vote Saturday for the chairmanship.

"The vote may be close, but I think the rift in the party is a lot deeper
than what John Dendahl perceives it to be," Cheney said.

Note: The Northeast Heights representative is seeking the state GOP
chairmanship over differences in drug policy.