DRUGS DEBATE STILL SMOLDERS, STILL DIVIDES STATE REPUBLICANS

It's hard to believe the debate over drug reform is still splitting the
state Republican Party 3 years after Gov. Gary Johnson first introduced the
idea to the GOP.

But that gulf is still prevalent as Republicans engage in leadership battles.

House Republicans met over the weekend to elect their leaders for the
upcoming legislative session. Minority Leader Ted Hobbs of Albuquerque held
off a challenge from Rep. Tom Taylor of Farmington, but Lovington Rep.
Earlene Roberts was defeated by Albuquerque Rep. Joe Thompson for the whip
position.

Roberts had tried to portray Thompson as the symbolic leader of the faction
of Republicans who embrace the outgoing governor's views on drug reform.

Johnson says he believes legalizing, and to a lesser extent,
decriminalizing the use of marijuana would help stem demand for the drug,
as well as the violence that goes along with the illegal trade.

Thompson, who once worked for the governor, has carried some of Johnson's
drug reform bills. But he didn't necessarily run for the leadership post
based on that position.

Nevertheless, there are still hard feelings.

The anti-drug-reform legislators are motivated mostly by philosophy. They
are adamantly opposed to easing drug laws, and many feel the public debate
that Johnson started only serves to send the message that it's OK to use
illegal drugs.

Politically, many of those legislators have been terrified that the debate
would open the Republican Party up to attacks from Democrats.

But that hasn't happened, except for a few situations. And even then, there
was no real damage to Republican candidates who were criticized by
Democratic opponents.

The real political fallout has, and continues, to come from Republicans
attacking each other on the issue.

And players on both sides of this debate are guilty of engaging in
behind-the-scenes attacks.

Now, GOP Party Chairman John Dendahl could be facing yet another challenge
to his position.

To be sure, there are many reasons why Dendahl, who is Johnson's top ally
in the drug-reform debate, once again has a target on his back.

He's being blamed by some in the party for GOP losses in the November
general election; others feel he was too cozy with John Sanchez during the
gubernatorial primary; some simply feel Dendahl's time has come after eight
years in charge of the party.

Dendahl sees things differently. He claims credit for helping with some GOP
victories, including Sen. Patrick Lyons' surprising win in the state land
commissioner's race.

But Dendahl's continued support of changing drug laws still haunts him when
it comes to unifying Republicans.

One of the potential challengers lining up to take on Dendahl is state Sen.
Ramsay Gorham. The Albuquerque Republican has been an outspoken opponent of
changing drug laws, and her husband, former Bernalillo County GOP Chairman
Frank Gorham, helped lead the lobbying effort to kill drug reform legislation.

Dendahl has fought off criticism and challenges to his job as party
chairman before. He soundly defeated Richard Cheney of Farmington in 2001
to keep his job.

But Dendahl had help that year from a sitting governor - Johnson - who
still had some sway with the party faithful, despite his views on drugs.
Johnson gave a compelling speech at the 2001 party convention in support of
Dendahl.

Dendahl also silenced powerful critics, such as U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, by
toning down his rhetoric on drugs. Domenici had previously called on
Dendahl to resign before the two came to an understanding.

This time around, when the party's state Central Committee meets in April,
it's difficult to say how strong Dendahl's base is. Johnson will disappear
from the political scene when he leaves office on Dec. 31.

Dendahl has acknowledged he is undecided about whether to run for a fifth,
two-year term as party leader.

If Dendahl steps down, it's possible Sanchez might make a run for the position.

Sanchez, who lost in last month's election to Democrat Bill Richardson, has
never really been outspoken on the drug debate. He has opposed reform
efforts but supported the debate on the effectiveness of current drug policies.

Either way, whether Dendahl stays or goes, a Gorham-Sanchez matchup could
be compelling.

The question is whether drugs will still be an issue.

It seems unlikely.

But then again who would have thought a "debate" over drugs that started in
1999 would still be boiling over in 2002?