SALISBURY CANDIDATE DECRIES WAR ON DRUGS

SALISBURY Robert Richard Ryan, a 43yearold engineer at NASA's Wallops
Island facility, has filed as a candidate for mayor of Salisbury

Ryan was born in northern New Jersey and moved to Salisbury almost seven
years ago with his wife of 23 years, Eileen, and their four children.

If elected, Ryan said his primary issues would be youth, crime and taxes.

Ryan said the city is not "kid friendly" and would like to see parking lots
and other public spaces opened up for inline skating and skateboarding,
which are currently not allowed on city property

He is also a frequent writer to the editorial pages of local newspapers
where he advocates decriminalizing some drugs and has called the war on
drugs a failure.

"Prohibition never works because it creates a huge criminal market. And
what are their tools?" he asked. "Violence and corruption."

Ryan realizes the mayor does not have the power to legalize marijuana. He
said he would use the position to launch a serious public dialogue.

"I would still enforce the law," he said

Ryan also favors lowering city taxes and said he would "look seriously at
consolidation."

He would not say whether he favors dissolving the city government.

The filing deadline for city elections is March 3. The primary election
will be held March 31. The general election is May 5.

The mayor of Salisbury is paid $10,000 annually.