FREEMAN-WILSON LEAVES DRUG CZAR POST

Former Attorney General Takes Job As Director Of National Association

INDIANAPOLIS -- Only two months after being named Indiana's first drug
czar, Gary native Karen Freeman-Wilson has left the post for a new job in
Virginia.

The former attorney general's swift departure from state government, and
her decision to accept a job as executive director of the National
Association of Drug Court Professionals, caught many in the O'Bannon
administration by surprise.

Freeman-Wilson, a former Gary City Court judge, informed Gov. Frank
O'Bannon of her plans to leave the government ranks about three weeks ago.

"Karen has been a great asset to the state of Indiana and she's going to be
missed," said Angela Belden, the governor's deputy press secretary. "She
brought a lot of experience as a prosecutor, judge and attorney general to
the position."

In February the governor, a fellow Democrat, appointed Freeman-Wilson to
the newly created post of director of the Indiana Office of Drug Control
Policy, an agency charged with overseeing the state's battle against drugs.

She had lost in her bid for attorney general in the November election.

She denied from the beginning that her appointment amounted to a political
payback for her unsuccessful election effort against Republican challenger
Steve Carter.

Freeman-Wilson acknowledged at the time, however, that she started
discussing a possible role in the O'Bannon administration shortly after the
election.

As attorney general, "I saw a lot of good (anti-drug) programs and
initiatives across the state," she said following her appointment, "but
there seemed to be a lack of coordination at the federal, state and local
levels. My role is to make those more effective and get the job done."

Freeman-Wilson said another of her priorities in heading up the state's
anti-drug effort was raising public awareness of the challenges facing law
enforcement officials in the fight against drugs and, at the same time,
"increasing the sensitivity of law enforcement officials" toward the
concerns of Hoosiers.

The governor already is seeking Freeman-Wilson's replacement, but no
timetable has been set for naming a new drug czar.

Freeman-Wilson, who is on vacation, could not be reached for comment.