MONNET HOPES TO UNSEAT SCOZZAFAVA FOR STATE ASSEMBLY

An Ogdensburg resident hopes to unseat Assemblywoman Dierdre (DeDe)
Scozzafava (R-Gouverneur) in the next general election.

Lee Monnet, 45, a resident of the Haggart Road, Ogdensburg, is now
preparing for his bid for Assembly. He has been endorsed by the Libertarian
Party, America's third largest and fastest growing political party. He will
need to collect a total of 1,500 qualifying signatures on his petition to
be considered for the political office. Petitions are due in August.

Even though Monnet has never held a political office, he believes that
candidates don't have to be a lawyer or a professional politician to run
for office. Monnet said he has the time and energy to devote to changing laws.

His political platform centers around: civil liberties, prohibition,
self-defense, freedom of choice, repealing the Rockefeller Drug Laws,
lowering the legal drinking age to 19, support of ballot referendums, equal
rights for gun owners, increasing Drug Education in the schools and more.

His slogan simply is "Freedom of Choice."

Why Is He Running?

"I've seen a regression of our civil rights over the years," he stated.
"Over the pat few decades government has been reducing the public's right
to freedom of choice. I want to send a message to Albany that we can make
our own choices."

"My platform is to protect the civil liberties of freedom and support a
free market economy...reduce the size of government in our life, repeal
Rockefeller Drug Laws, lower the legal drinking age to 19, repeal seatbelt
laws, support ballot referendums, and increase Drug Education in our school
through public health professionals...not law enforcement officers," said
Monnet, who founded the local chapter of ReconsiDer, which is a grassroots,
not-for-profit educational membership organization in New York State that
dedicates itself to initiating and supporting public discussion of the Drug
War and exploring alternative drug policies.

Monnet said Assemblywoman Scozzafava has been "one of the more progressive
politicians," but she is where he wants to go.

He said there's a lack of rapport with Congressman John M. McHugh and State
Senator James Wright concerning the medical marijuana issue. Monnet
believes the issue should be put on a ballot referendum for the people to
decide.

"This is a growing issue. Why can't people who are dying of cancer use
marijuana to help ease their pain and suffering? I've read about several
marijuana arrests from the reservation that appeared in The Journal. It's a
black market-prohibition. People are willing to take a chance to make money
on it. Prohibition causes a lot of crime," he stated.

Monnet said that some lawmakers have tunnel vision when it comes to making
decisions. For example, some Congressmen are in support of making hemp oil
substances illegal. "But what they are missing is that hemp could be a
windfall for farmers," he pointed out.

Hemp is grown legally in Canada. One acre of hemp has the same pulp as four
acres of trees. It can be used for fuel, paint, and more. Corn and cotton
deplete the soil, but hemp doesn't, said Monnet. He said that the DEA
claims that hemp looks so much like marijuana, that people would grow
marijuana among the hemp plants.

On an economic note, Monnet believes in privatization.

"We need to reduce the size of government through privatization...allow
entrepreneurs to flourish instead of squashing them with regulations," he
stated.

Monnet graduated from Ogdensburg Free Academy in 1975. He joined in the
U.S. Coast Guard in 1976 and was honorably discharged. He is a part-time
mechanic. He enjoys working outside where he now has the beginnings of an
orchard on his property. He is the chairperson of ReconsiDer of Northern
New York Chapter.

Monnet was convicted of possession of marijuana in 1995.

His wife, Joanne works in Ogdensburg. The couple has two daughters,
Michelle and Faith.

Monnet said there are voter registration forms available at Bob's County
Cabin, 938 Ford Street, Ogdensburg, for anyone wishing to register for the
next election.