GOP LEADERS: DENDAHL SECURE

State Republican Party chairman John Dendahl's job is not in danger, even
though many Republicans disagree with his views on national drug policy,
several party leaders said Tuesday. Dendahl, who has voiced support for
marijuana legalization and other drug law reforms, said Monday that Rep.
Ron Godbey, R-Albuquerque, is mounting a campaign to oust him.

But Godbey, an outspoken opponent of drug legalization, on Tuesday denied
that he wants Dendahl out as GOP chief.

He said he simply wants to present the Republican Party's 400-member
Central Committee with an argument against drug legalization and point out
that he views Dendahl's drug stance as hypocritical. Godbey recently wrote
Dendahl requesting names and addresses of those who serve on the committee.
Godbey said Dendahl often has pressured Republican lawmakers to toe the
party line on committee and floor votes, but now he refuses to uphold the
party platform as it relates to drug policy.

Godbey said the platform opposes drug legalization and that Dendahl should
not disagree publicly with that position. He said the committee should
censure Dendahl, not remove him.

"The last thing I want is for John Dendahl to go," Godbey said in a
telephone interview Tuesday. "He should stay on as party head and do the
thing he does best, which is beat up on liberals."

Dendahl, who was elected to a third two-year term as party chairman in May,
said the GOP rules don't prohibit him from disagreeing publicly with the
party platform.

Dendahl also stressed that he would not support drug legalization in New
Mexico unless similar reforms were made nationally.

Several Republican Party leaders said they are unaware of -- and would not
support -- an attempt to get rid of Dendahl.

"Absolutely not," said Dusty Bolton, the Central Committee's 1st vice
chairwoman. "He's done so much for the party. He's raised more money and
gotten more people elected than any other chairman in our history."

The 400-member state Central Committee can vote to remove elected party
officials. The vote would require attendance of 51 percent of the
committee, with two-thirds voting to remove the official.

Dendahl said he viewed Godbey's letter as the first step in trying to get
rid of him.

However, aside from Godbey's letter, Dendahl said he has little reason to
believe his party wants to oust him. Republican leaders in the state House
and Senate also said they are not aware of any campaign to remove Dendahl.

"I have had no input from anyone who is challenging John's chairmanship,"
said House Minority Leader Ted Hobbs, R-Albuquerque. "There is no way I
think John ought to step down."

Senate Majority Leader L. Skip Vernon, R-Albuquerque, also said he knows of
no attempt to oust Dendahl. Vernon said Dendahl's outspoken style sometimes
frustrates party members, but most are happy with his overall job
performance.