WHITE PURSUES DRUG POST

Darren White, who quit as New Mexico's Department of Public Safety secretary
in a clash with Gov. Gary Johnson's crusade to legalize drugs such as
marijuana, wants to be the nation's drug czar under President-elect Bush.

White, 37, has applied to be Drug Enforcement Administration administrator
or director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

"I've always thoroughly enjoyed public service, and I still see it as the
highest calling," White, a reporter for KRQE-TV in Albuquerque, said
Thursday.

"After discussing it with my wife, I went ahead and submitted the necessary
paperwork" about a month ago, he said.

In 1995, Johnson appointed White as secretary of the state Department of
Public Safety, which also meant White served as New Mexico's drug czar.

White quit in 1999, saying Johnson's stance on drugs was hurting police
officer credibility and morale.

Johnson spokeswoman Diane Kinderwater said Thursday she did not think the
governor had heard White had applied to be the nation's drug czar.

Kinderwater said Johnson wants a national drug czar who is "an open-minded
person who believes in a common-sense approach" to drug policy.

White is banking on his law enforcement background and his stint as New
Mexico's drug czar to bolster his chances for the federal jobs.

After leaving the U.S. Army in 1985 as a member the 82nd Airborne Division,
White was an officer with the Houston Police Department from 1986 to 1987.

In 1987, he joined the Albuquerque Police Department and was promoted to
sergeant before his appointment to the state job.

Barry McCaffrey has been director of the Office of National Drug Control
Policy in the Clinton administration. Clinton's DEA administrator has been
Donnie Marshall.