JOHNSON WON'T LET DRUG ISSUE GO

Fear of electoral defeat and "lack of guts" kept Gov. Gary Johnson from
revealing his passion for drug legalization during his two gubernatorial
campaigns.

But now that the Republican chief is a lame duck who claims no future
political aspirations, he plans to keep hammering on an issue he believes
is the nation's - and the state's - most important. "This is an issue that
takes time." Johnson said Friday. "Maybe it takes two years before you
finally get people to understand."

But for anyone who does hold hopes for public office, Johnson warned: "It's
terrible to even bring this issue up. I swear to you that if this were a
different time, maybe I would have been lynched by now."

Johnson - sounding alternately like a preacher or a comic - made the
remarks after arguing his case for the legalization of all drugs during a
speech before a nearly empty room of stone-faced lenders attending the New
Mexico Mortgage Banker Brokers convention Friday.

"Make drugs a controlled substance. Let the government regulate it, grow
it, manufacture it, distribute it, market it. Now if that doesn't cut down
drug use - I don't know what will," said the governor, earning one of his
few laughs during the morning talk.

D'Nette Wood Schueler, who had invited Johnson to speak before the group,
said afterward that the governor had said he would talk about drugs and
education "but I think it was a good opportunity for us to hear the full
picture" on his drug policies.

Several other attendees crowded around Johnson after his speech to tell the
governor they would consider his novel ideas.

Johnson also announced he would be the featured speaker at two upcoming
forums in Albuquerque sponsored by the New Mexico Drug Policy Foundation, a
drug law-reform group.

"The Drug War: Who is Winning?" will be held at 7 p.m. Nov. 2 at the Crowne
Plaza hotel, and "Drug Legalization: A Bold Alternative to the Drug War"
begins at 7 p.m. Nov. 16 at the Radisson.

"My new mantra is 'Just say know.' Know there are two sides to this
argument," Johnson said in explaining his participation along with national
experts.

But with the next legislative session around the corner in January, the
heads of New Mexico's major political parties - including the governor's
own GOP - wish Johnson would use his bully pulpit to sway voters on other
issues.

"My concern is not so much the debate about drugs, but taking New Mexico's
eye off things that are important - tax reform, school choice," said John
Dendahl, head of the state Republican Party.

"There isn't time and emotional energy on the part of the public to focus
on all these things. He's going to have to make a choice, and if he wants
to keep the public all stirred up about drugs - he might as well forget
about these other important things."

In unusual bipartisan spirit, state Democratic Party Chairwoman Diane
Denish agreed.

"He (Johnson) is taking time and energy away from some very serious
problems, not the least of which is the recent report that we're the first
in the nation in hunger," Denish said. "I think it's time to discuss if
he's created malfeasance in office by not paying attention to the problems
that are facing New Mexicans.

"Lots of agencies are in chaos, including Tax and Rev (Taxation and
Revenue). The MVD (Motor Vehicle Division) is completely chaotic," Denish
said. "And I think the problems in education need some serious thought
right now before we go to the Legislature. I think the governor should be
putting his nose to the grindstone on how we're going to solve some of the
problems."

Johnson said he plans to put school vouchers, which give parents public
money for private education, on the legislative agenda but won't promote
any bills on drug reform - an issue he says must be addressed nationally.

But, at the same time, the governor insists drug legalization is New
Mexico's priority. "I don't know as there's a bigger issue," he said.
"What's a bigger fish to fry?"

And, Johnson said, he's being true to his job description as the state's
executive.

"This is an extension of what I do as governor - basically I just do
cost-benefit analysis," he said.

But Denish said she has heard from many people who think Johnson "deceived"
them.

"He danced around the subject of legalization and now he comes out and
says, 'This is how I really feel.' And many people voted for him because
they thought he was a law-and-order candidate."

When asked why he didn't raise drug legalization during either his 1994 or
1998 campaigns, Johnson said Friday, "If you want to - call it lack of
guts."