INSPECTOR GENERAL DECLINES TO INVESTIGATE TAFTS

Proponents Of Ballot Issue Consider Lawsuit

COLUMBUS - The Ohio inspector general will not investigate allegations that
Gov. Bob Taft, his wife Hope, and two high-ranking state officials plotted
on state time to scuttle a ballot issue.

"We do not find sufficient cause to believe an act of wrongdoing or
omission occurred that would fall within our jurisdiction," Tom Charles
wrote yesterday to Ed Orlett, head of the Ohio chapter of the Campaign for
New Drug Policies.

The group, based in Santa Monica, Calif., is trying to collect enough
signatures of registered voters to place a constitutional amendment on the
Nov. 5 ballot to require treatment for nonviolent first and second-time
drug users instead of jail.

Mr. Orlett filed the complaint last month with Mr. Charles, alleging that
the Tafts were working on politics during state time over the past year and
attempting to "subvert the lawful processes of government" by plotting
against the proposed ballot issue. The complaint also named Luceille
Fleming, director of the state department of alcohol and drug addiction
services, and Domingo Herraiz, director of the office of criminal justice
services.

Yesterday, Mr. Orlett said his group is weighing whether to file a lawsuit.

"The governor and others in his administration should not regard the
inspector general's decision as immunity from further legal action if they
continue to disregard Ohio law and the Ohio constitution with further
attempts to prevent our initiative from being placed before voters and
tested in a fair and legal election."

Mr. Taft, whose wife has been an anti-drug and alcohol-abuse activist since
the 1980s, has noted that some people refer to the proposed constitutional
amendment as "de facto decriminalization of drugs."

Last month, Republican state Auditor Jim Petro denied a request by Mr.
Orlett's group to do a special audit on whether the Taft administration had
used state tax dollars improperly to fight the proposed ballot issue.

Citing state law and court decisions, Mr. Petro told Mr. Orlett said it was
proper for state officials to "spend state time and resources to review
your proposed constitutional amendment and assess what impact it would have
on Ohio."

Mr. Charles said Mr. Petro's research helped him reach his decision not to
investigate the Tafts.

"The governor sets policies and takes positions on all kinds of issues. In
this case, he happens to oppose the [ballot] issue," Mr. Charles said.