In California Race, Eleven of 26 Congressional Candidates Say Drug War A Failure

STATE ELECTIONS April 1993

Almost half of the 26 candidates running in a special congressional election to replace Democrat Leon Panetta have termed the war on drugs a failure and called for treating drug-related problems as medical and social problems (Kathy Kruger, "Drug War A Failure, 11 Candidates Say," Santa Cruz Sentinel, 3/27/93, A2).

The comments came in a resolution signed by candidates including one Republican, six Democrats, two independents, one Green, and one Libertarian in the race for the 17th Congressional District in California. The two Democrats viewed as front-runners, however, refused to sign. They are state Assemblyman Sam Farr (D-Carmel), and Monterey County Supervisor Barbara Shipnuck. Both said they supported legalizing medical use of marijuana.

The lone Republican who signed was Carl Cieslikowski who organized the signing. The Democrats were Bill Monning, Joseph Mitchner, Shelley Reinisch, Richard Kraus, Kyle Samuels, and Ed Frey. The independents were Peter James and James Ogle. The Green was Kevin Clark, and the Libertarian was Richard Quigley.

The seat opened after Panetta was appointed director of the Office of Management and Budget by President Bill Clinton. The resolution does not call for the decriminalization of drugs.