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The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Buffalo/Niagara and asked of all candidates for this office.
See below for questions on
Rockefeller Drug Laws,
Gambling Revenue
Click on a name for candidate information. See also more information about this contest.
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1. There is growing support for reform of the Rockefeller drug laws. What will you do to: a.) Initiate significant reform of these laws; b.) Provide adequate financial support for programs, on the community level, designed to cope with the impact of such reform?*
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Answer from Joseph J. Mesler:
I support the Rockefeller drug laws. If they were "reformed", you would simply end up with criminals who were forced to attend "programs" instead of being adequately punished. I would rather use tax dollars to keep them imprisoned, rather than fund unproven, most likely ineffective, drug rehabilitation classes.
Answer from William T. Stachowski:
I have voted in favor of Rockefeller drug laws reform (2004) (2005). Although there have been discussions between the Senate & Assembly involving drug treatment funding, we haven't reached an agreement. I fully support funding for this purpose.
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2. What programs and actions will you support to protect communities from the negative consequences of the state’s increasing dependence on gambling revenue?*
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Answer from Joseph J. Mesler:
I will begin by stating that I am opposed to casino gaming in N.Y.S. However, it is not to be denied that it has caused the exponential growth of gambling related problems. I support helping existing programs provided by church's and Jewish organizations.
Answer from William T. Stachowski:
Under the compact signed by Governor Pataki and the Indian Tribes, funds are returned to the "host communities". The Legislature has considered, and will continue to explore, ways to return more funds to such communities.
Responses to questions asked of each candidate
are reproduced as submitted to the League.
- Original answers for a published Voters Guide
were limited to 50 words and are presented as submitted. Candidates have
since been invited to supply answers of any length for the Web.
The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.
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League of Women Voters of New York Education Foundation
