NAPOLITANO STRESSES COOPERATION IN FIGHTING CRIME

PHOENIX - Stressing her experience as a U.S. attorney, Janet Napolitano
yesterday promised to make the Attorney General's Office ``the hub of the
law enforcement wheel.''

Napolitano said solving the state's problems will require cooperation among
not only police and prosecutors but community groups as well.

``It takes a much larger view than we have previously seen expressed,'' she
said.

That refers to incumbent Grant Woods, who is not seeking re-election. And
it reflects directly on Republican nominee Tom McGovern, who was a top aide
to Woods and is his handpicked successor.

Napolitano cited her role in putting together federally coordinated ``weed
and seed'' programs. Those focus on police sweeps of neighborhoods to get
rid of drug dealers and other criminals and then refilling the area with
services to attract families.

To drive home her point, Napolitano's press conference was held on the
porch of the Lupe Cisneros Safe Haven in the inner-city Garfield
neighborhood. Napolitano said the program resulted in a 44 percent drop in
property crime, a decline of nearly 24 percent in domestic violence and an
18 percent reduction in calls for police services.

Napolitano said she is entitled to claim credit for the program, as she
chaired the council that ran it for three years.

``I came every month to meetings in this area, plus a host of weekend
events,'' she said.

``I personally took kids from this neighborhood to camp up near Heber in
the summer so they could get out of the heat for a week,'' she continued.
``If all I had been doing is sitting in my office over there in the federal
courthouse, I wouldn't be making that claim today.''

Napolitano said she agrees with McGovern on one thing: The state should not
legalize marijuana and other drugs.

She supports Proposition 300, which would repeal provisions of a 1996
voter-passed initiative that allows doctors to prescribe otherwise illegal
drugs for seriously or terminally ill patients.

Napolitano said it makes no sense to declare these drugs legal in Arizona
when they are illegal under federal law. She also said she is
``unpersuaded'' by arguments that there is a legitimate medical use for
marijuana.

``But if the voters choose it again, I will abide by the decision of the
voters,'' she said.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski