ATTORNEY GENERAL HOPEFULS TARGET DRUGS

LEXINGTON -- The drug war is one of the most pressing issues facing the
next attorney general, five candidates agreed Thursday.

"The No. 1 issue in America domestically ... is the drug culture," Chris
Gorman, one of the Democratic candidates, said at a forum.

Gorman, running to regain an office he held from 1992 to 1996, said he
would create a "drug squad" in the attorney general's office to concentrate
on drug cases.

He said it would be akin to the office's "death squad," a group of
assistant attorneys general who specialize in capital punishment cases.

Democrat Greg Stumbo, who is House majority leader, proposed creating a
Kentucky Bureau of Investigation to focus on drug crimes. Stumbo said he
would offer to personally prosecute drug cases in court.

A Republican, attorney Philip C. Kimball of Louisville, said he would try
to work with licensure boards to get rid of physicians and other health
professionals who overprescribe narcotics.

A second Republican, state Rep. Tim Feeley of Crestwood, said drug users
needed more treatment options. Feeley, a former federal prosecutor, also
said he would work with the Drug Enforcement Administration and Kentucky's
U.S. attorneys if elected.

A third Democrat, state Auditor Ed Hatchett, said he would convene a
"summit on substance abuse" if elected.

The candidate forum was sponsored by the Kentucky League of Cities,
Kentucky County Judge-Executive Association and Kentucky Council of Area
Development Districts.

Absent was a third Republican candidate, Jack D. Wood of Valley Station.