DRUG-POLICY AMENDMENT REJECTED BY BIG MARGIN

COLUMBUS - Three billionaires failed yesterday in their effort to overhaul
Ohio's drug laws to make treatment an option for nonviolent first and
second-time felony drug offenders instead of incarceration.

With nearly all precincts reporting statewide, voters defeated Issue 1 67.2
percent to 32.8 percent.

"Issue 1 is deader than a dodo," declared Mr. Taft at 8:25 p.m., crediting
his wife, Hope, for co-chairing the group that trounced the ballot issue.
"She understands this field, she understands why it's bad for Ohio and bad
for criminals trying to overcome their addiction. I tried to warn the
backers of Issue 1 not to mess with Hope Taft."

Mrs. Taft, who has been an anti-drug and alcohol-abuse activist since the
1980s, added: "A few people thought their will and their money could buy an
election. I'm here to tell them that Ohio is not for sale."

The primary financial backers of Issue 1 were New York financier George
Soros, John Sperling, founder of the University of Phoenix; and Ohio
insurance executive Peter Lewis.

Mr. Taft, a Republican, referred to Democratic Toledo Mayor Jack Ford, who
also was a co-chair of the anti-Issue 1 group, as a "true profile in
courage" for opposing Issue 1.

"His stature as a former House Minority Leader and as a former treatment
provider gave great credibility to the campaign," the governor said.

Mr. Ford last night said he was "very pleased" that the voters agreed that
Issue 1 was "not the right way to go."

"The constitutional amendment went too far. It should have been handled via
the legislature," he said.

Ed Orlett, director of the pro-Issue 1 group, predicted that the proposal
will be back on the ballot in 2004.

"They've won a small skirmish in what is a great battle. It's a rather
hollow victory based on a very negative campaign. I've had judges tell me
that there are courtrooms where first-time offenders are sent to jail and
it 's a tremendous cost that we don't need to bear," he said.

The national group behind Issue 1 - California-based Campaign for New Drug
Policies - complained that the Republican-controlled ballot board wrote a
misleading summary of the proposed constitutional amendment.