DRUG DEBATE MIGHT HURT THE BUZZ AT GOP PARTY

A potential battle over the state Republican Party platform is shaping up
over opposition to the governor's drug-reform efforts.

And some delegates think the issue could steal the thunder from they
party's main mission during its pre-primary - choosing candidates for the
June 4 primary election.

About 681 Republican delegates will meet Saturday in Socorro for the
party's pre-primary convention.

Aside from choosing candidates, the party will vote on changes to its platform.

A committee of GOP leaders that was formed to draft a new platform included
a new "controlled substances" plank this year that spells out the party's
opposition to the legalization of drugs.

But a vocal group of Republicans who oppose Gov. Gary Johnson's drug-reform
agenda wants the platform to make clear that the GOP also opposes efforts
to decriminalize drugs.

Frank Gorham III of Albuquerque said he proposed the change, in part, so
Republicans can hold GOP candidates and party leaders to a specific
standard when it comes to supporting or opposing efforts to ease drug laws.

The Bernalillo County Republican Party endorsed the new language, said
Gorham, the county party's former chairman.

Several Republican leaders, including Johnson, state party Chairman John
Dendahl and National Committeeman Mickey Barnett, have supported efforts to
change drug laws.

Johnson has led the drive to change drug laws. He proposed legislation, for
example, that would have decriminalized the possession of small amounts of
marijuana and legalized the use of marijuana for medical purposes.

Gorham said Johnson, Dendahl and Barnett went against the position of most
Republicans when they embraced the drug-reform agenda.

"They said they weren't in violation of the Republican Party platform by
doing that," Gorham said. "Well, we're trying to make sure that little
episode doesn't happen again."

The party's platform committee is finalizing the document, which will be
presented to the delegates Saturday.

A handful of county parties have also suggested changes to the drug plank,
Dendahl said.

Do a Ana County suggested language that is similar to Gorham's proposed change.

Sandoval County suggested language that used to be in the crime plank, such
as support for "swift and sure punishment," including embracing the death
penalty.

Dendahl said the Santa Fe County party voted for the drug plank, but left
out the sentence opposing legalization of drugs.

Dendahl said the debate over the drug plank is meant to take a swipe at the
governor and to stop party leaders from talking about the issue.

A similar fight broke out last year before Dendahl was re-elected to serve
as the party chairman.

Dendahl was admonished in 2001 by party leaders, including U.S. Sen. Pete
Domenici, for offering his support to Johnson's drug-reform agenda in the
Legislature.

Domenici, an Albuquerque Republican, had asked Dendahl to resign. But
Domenici later changed his mind after Dendahl agreed not to use his
position in the party to advocate for changes in drug laws.

Dendahl said Wednesday that he's honored that pledge, although some
legislators nevertheless are concerned the chairman continues to speak out
in favor of new drug laws.

Dendahl said he will not back down from his opinions, or refuse to answer
questions about his stance on drugs.

"There's no such thing as putting a muzzle on me," Dendahl said.

Dendahl said he thinks the issue will play out Saturday without much of a
fight.

"I think we can have a real donnybrook down there if people on each side of
that argument really cared a huge amount about what the platform says," he
said, referring to the drug plank.

Dendahl admitted that opponents like Gorham are adamant about the issue.

"But I don't get a sense that anybody else cares," Dendahl said.

State Rep. Rob Burpo, one of five Republican candidates for governor, said
the drug debate should be an issue at the convention and during the primary
campaign.

In a letter sent earlier this month to convention delegates, Burpo, a
Northeast Heights Republican, highlighted his opposition to the governor's
stance on drugs.

"Unfortunately, the drug legalization debate our party leaders have foisted
upon us diverts us from uniting around and championing all the good that
Governor Johnson has done for New Mexico," Burpo wrote.

Despite Johnson's achievements during two terms as governor, Burpo wrote
that the "drug legalization issue hangs over us today like a dark cloud."

Other gubernatorial candidates have taken different approaches to
supporting or opposing the governor's drug-reform agenda.

State Rep. John Sanchez, a North Valley Republican, has said he opposed
Johnson's drug bills in the Legislature. But Sanchez says he will not use
his opposition to make a political point.

Lt. Gov. Walter Bradley, a West Side Republican, has also said he opposes
some of Johnson's ideas about drugs. But Bradley said he welcomes the
governor's debate over drug laws.

Former talk show host Larry Ahrens, another GOP candidate for governor,
takes a hard line against some of Johnson's drug views, according to his
Web site.

For example, Ahrens opposes a 2001 law, which Johnson proposed, that
created a state-funded needle-exchange program.

But Ahrens also writes that he supports the decriminalization of small
amounts of marijuana, in some cases, and allowing doctors and patients to
decide whether marijuana should be used to treat side effects of some
illnesses.

The final GOP candidate, retired Brig. Gen. Gilbert Baca, could not be
reached Wednesday about his position on drugs.