Survey of Gubernatorial campaign websites, 2001-2009: on Drugs


Bob McDonnell: Mandatory minimum sentences for career drug dealers

Source: 2009 VA Gubernatorial campaign site, bobmcdonnell.com Nov 3, 2009

Creigh Deeds: Make combating methamphetamines a top priority

When home-grown methamphetamine labs were wreaking havoc on our communities--Sen. Deeds didn't just speak up; he took action. This terrible drug, and the devastating consequences of making it in homes, was spreading around the Commonwealth. Law enforcement experts told Deeds that one in six home meth labs explode or catch fire. Even labs that don't have accidents leave a toxic residue that sickens families--especially children--for years after these illegal drug makers have moved on.

This is why Sen. Deeds made combating methamphetamines a top priority. While it is commonplace these days to look for your cold or allergy medicine behind the counter at your local drug store, it took real leadership to change the laws that allowed home methamphetamine labs to produce their poison. Deeds passed the legislation requiring that over-the-counter drugs used by illegal drug makers to manufacture meth be taken off the shelf and put behind the counter.

Source: 2009 Gubernatorial campaign website www.deedsforvirginia.com Jul 21, 2009

Bill Ritter: Fight meth & dealers; treat drug abusers

In 1994, Colorado’s first drug court opened, to address the root cause of some defendants’ crime--substance abuse--while holding those defendants strictly accountable during treatment. As Governor, I will continue to support affordable, tough and proven substance abuse treatment options for deserving substance abusers, but not for manufacturers or dealers. Additionally, I will continue to fight the manufacture of methamphetamine, which directly threatens the health and safety of us all.
Source: 2006 Gubernatorial website, ritterforgovernor.com, “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

Brad Henry: National model in the war in methamphetamine

In 2004, the governor approved a law that would soon become a national model in the war in methamphetamine. By restricting over-the-counter sales of a key meth ingredient, pseudoephdrine, Gov. Henry helped shut down clandestine meth labs across the state Because of its high success rate, dozens of other states and the federal government copied Oklahoma’s law, which was also won praise from the US drug czar.
Source: 2006 Gubernatorial website, henryforgovernor.com, “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

Jennifer Granholm: Tougher penalties for drug dealers; more tools against meth

Governor Granholm signed legislation creating tougher penalties for drug dealers, including life imprisonment for drug dealers whose products cause death. The Governor also signed a seven-bill package to give law enforcement better tools to address the rapid spread of methamphetamine.
Source: 2006 Gubernatorial campaign website, granholmforgov.com Nov 7, 2006

Jerry Brady: Cannot just throw people in jail for drugs; more treatment

We are doing a poor job at rehabilitation, especially in regards to drug treatment. Jerry Brady is an advocate of treatment centers in prisons. We can’t simply throw more and more people into jail, where they are exposed to even more drugs. We need drug treatment centers in our prisons now. Jerry believes that by strengthening our education system, from early childhood straight through college, we will cut down on crime and prison populations.
Source: 2006 Gubernatorial campaign website, bradyforidaho.org Nov 7, 2006

John Lynch: 30 years for manufacturers of meth

Under John Lynch, New Hampshire has taken action to prevent crystal meth, a horribly addictive drug, from gaining an even bigger foothold in New Hampshire. New laws call for sentences of up to 30 years for manufacturers of meth; protect children and incapacitated adults exposed to meth; and require offenders to be held financially responsible for the expensive environmental cleanups of meth labs.
Source: 2006 Gubernatorial campaign website johnlynch06.com “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

Kathleen Sebelius: Vigilant in war against dangerous methamphetamine

Like so many Midwestern states, Kansas has been vigilant in the war against dangerous methamphetamine that threatens our children and schools, families and communities. Kathleen Sebelius helped pass legislation making it harder for meth producers to obtain from grocery stores and retail outlets the chemicals necessary to produce their deadly drug.
Source: 2006 Gubernatorial campaign site www.ksgovernor.com “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

Mike Rounds: Never send the message that marijuana is OK

On Initiated Measure #4 Medical Marijuana: “Personally, I will vote NO on this proposal because marijuana leads to more dangerous drug abuse. Many crimes, some of them violent, are committed by drug abusers. Also, we should never send the message to our young people that marijuana is OK -- in any way, shape or form.”
Source: 2006 Gubernatorial website, roundsforgov.com, “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

Phil Bredesen: Proliferation of meth is one of the most serious threats

Attacking methamphetamine manufacturing and abuse: I believe the proliferation of meth is one of the most serious threats facing rural, urban and suburban Tennessee. I’m proud to report that our comprehensive Meth-Free Tennessee Initiative has cut the number of toxic meth labs in our state by 50% since March 2005. We’re continuing the fight against meth with education and enforcement programs.
Source: 2006 Gubernatorial website, bredesen.com, “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

Sonny Perdue: Combat the methamphetamine crisis

The methamphetamine crisis spreading through our state takes a terrible toll in lives ruined and lives lost. It is a threat to families and a corrosive influence eating away at our communities. Sonny has been leading Georgia’s fight to combat meth.

Sonny passed a law that strengthened criminal penalties for the manufacture, transfer and possession of methamphetamine and criminalized the transport of materials used in its illegal production. The following year, he stiffened penalties.

Source: 2006 Gubernatorial website, www.votesonny.com, “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

Ted Kulongoski: Make Oregon one of the toughest places to produce Meth

Governor Ted Kulongoski signed Legislation to make Oregon one of the toughest places to produce Meth in the Nation.. The Legislation will not only make it hard to get the key ingredient that produces Meth but it will also increase the penalties for those who produce Meth. The Legislation not only allocates money for the tougher sentences but also allocates money for special drug courts and treatment options.
Source: 2006 Gubernatorial website, www.tedforgov.com, “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

Tim Pawlenty: Tougher penalties for meth offenders

Source: 2006 Gubernatorial website, www.timpawlenty.com, “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

Christy Mihos: Permit over-the-counter sale of needles

Christy supports legislation permitting the over-the-counter sale of needles to curb the spread of disease.
Source: 2006 Gubernatorial campaign website, www.christy2006.com Jul 16, 2006

Haley Barbour: Wrong time to cut drug enforcement spending

Over the last three years state drug enforcement spending has been cut 36% at a time when an epidemic of crystal meth crime has broken out around the state.
Source: 2006 Gubernatorial campaign website, haleybarbour.com Jan 28, 2006

Tim Kaine: Anti-drug and anti-gang units in State Police

Tim Kaine supports giving the State Police the resources they need to combat gang violence, drug dealers and terrorism. As Governor, Kaine would expand the Virginia State Police’s Counter-Terrorism and Criminal Interdiction Units to fight gang and drug activity in local communities and investigate and interrupt terrorist cells.

The State Police have highly trained specialists, but they also split their time between special assignments and regular highway patrol duties. These specially trained officers are the ones working with localities in task forces that fight gangs and drug rings and we rely heavily upon them to prevent and respond to acts of terrorism. While they are always ready to take on special projects, they leave holes when they are pulled off to serve on task forces. The State Police should have sufficient manpower to have both full-time specialists and a strong regular force.

Source: 2005 Gubernatorial campaign website kaine2005.org, “Issues” Nov 8, 2005

Linda Lingle: Addicts get treatment; dealers & repeat users get jail

Simple users, or addicts, should receive treatment. Drug dealers should be sent to jail. First time offenders for possession should be diverted to a treatment program with mandatory jail time as the alternative if they refuse treatment. Repeat offenders and those who fail treatment should get a mandatory prison term.
Source: 2002 Gubernatorial campaign website, LindaLingle.com Oct 10, 2002

  • The above quotations are from Survey of Gubernatorial campaign websites, 2001-2009.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Drugs.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Linda Lingle on Drugs.
  • Click here for more quotes by Jim Douglas on Drugs.
Candidates and political leaders on Drugs:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R)
Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R)
Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
Please consider a donation to OnTheIssues.org!
Click for details -- or send donations to:
1770 Mass Ave. #630, Cambridge MA 02140
E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org
(We rely on your support!)

Page last updated: Dec 02, 2018