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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 Richard L. Woll:
I believe that these laws will be reformed. There seems to be a sentiment to pass reform in the Assembly and I would support it in the Senate. I am against adding to the state's already bloated bureaucracy, at least initially. Hopefully, concomitant savings might be realized from a decrease in the prison population.
Answer from Mary Lou Rath:
It is important that education opportunities are available to those people who are released from incarceration for drug addiction. Therefore, rehabilitative measures are a key component in any type of changes that might be made to New York State law. Once identified, these educational programs must be properly funded.
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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 Richard L. Woll:
I assume that by "negative consequences" of gambling, you refer to the danger of gambling addiction and its impact on families and communities. Since state sponsored gambling is a fait accompli, perhaps some revenue could be diverted to outreach programs and to increasing public awareness of these dangers through the media. At very least, the state's lottery advertising should contain some warning regarding problem gambling. I am against state sponsored gambling in principle, but it is probably here to stay.
Answer from Mary Lou Rath:
It is important to identify those people who are vulnerable to gambling addiction -- not only through casino venues, but the other gambling opportunities the Internet and other states and countries provide. I support preventative and counseling programs designed to assist those with gambling problems.
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
