Marijuana Policy Project

When the question of legalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana came up Thursday night during the debate between the candidates for Clark County district attorney, incumbent David Roger did not hesitate in saying he was adamantly against the idea.

"I am very much opposed to the legalization of drugs," Roger said. "Nobody has ever been able to explain to me why the people of Clark County would be better off with a bunch of dope smokers out on the streets."

But when Democratic candidate for district attorney Patrick Ferguson was asked the question, he was basically noncommittal.

After the debate, Ferguson said his personal opinion on the legalization of small amounts of marijuana did not matter. What matters is what the voters decide in November on the ballot question, which would legalize possessing less than an ounce of the drug.

"I fully intend to enforce the laws on the books, whatever they may be," Ferguson said. "What's my opinion? What am I going to vote for? That's nobody's business."

Roger said Ferguson was avoiding the question.

Such was the tone of the debate Thursday night at the West Charleston Library. The Charleston Neighborhood Preservation Foundation sponsored the event.

Throughout the debate, Roger was on the offensive. He said Ferguson lacks the experience necessary to be a prosecutor, and he criticized the Democrat for working in the past as a deputy public defender.

Roger told the audience of 17 people that in his opinion, the district attorney should be a career prosecutor.

"He defended criminals while I was prosecuting criminals, while I was trying to protect this community," the Republican said. "The people in law enforcement, they know the difference between a career prosecutor and someone who is looking for a job."

Ferguson said that his brief time as a public defender in California made him a better lawyer and that he has extensive experience prosecuting criminals with both the district attorney's office and city attorney's office.

Ferguson is a prosecutor with the state attorney general's office and handles workers compensation fraud cases.

Ferguson criticized Roger in the debate for what he said was Roger's willingness to accept money from the strip club industry. He alleged Roger accepted thousands in unreported cash from strip club owner Michael Galardi, a charge Roger said is a lie.

Ferguson said the district attorney's office is suffering from low morale, which Roger disputed.

Ferguson, considered to be the underdog in the race, said after the debate he cannot match Roger's campaign war chest, which is estimated to be close to $1 million. Ferguson has raised about $20,000.

But he said he is relying on a grass-roots campaign in which he is emphasizing his integrity.

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