YOUNG REPUBLICANS PRESIDENT RESIGNS

GUTHRIE -- The president of the Logan County Young Republicans resigned
after his drug-related arrest earlier this month. Jay Stevens resigned July
18, effective immediately.

Stevens said he was resigning because he is "moving out of state and needs
to dedicate time to addressing personal and family issues."

He was charged July 11 in Logan County District Court with possession of
marijuana and drug paraphernalia. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Stevens was arrested July 10 after a District 9 Drug Task Force raid at his
house, 521 Pulse Drive.

Task force agents found 6 grams of marijuana, a set of surgical hemostats
and four pipes containing marijuana residue in the house.

The resignation was voluntary, said Jason Murphey, chairman of the state
Young Republicans.

Murphey said Stevens was in his second one-year term as the organization's
president. The term would have ended in December.

The group is reorganizing and will elect a new president to fulfill the
term, Murphey said.

Stevens, 38, was unavailable Wednesday for comment.

In April 2002, Stevens was appointed as the Ward 2 Guthrie city councilman
to fill an unexpired term that ends in May 2005.

Stevens told The Oklahoman following his recent arrest that he will not
resign the city council position until he sells his house and is ready to
move. He has lived in Guthrie for about five years.

Stevens did not attend the council's July 15 meeting.