The Trail : A blog on the 2006 Alaska governor's race by Kyle Hopkins : Halcro answers pot question

The Trail : A blog on the 2006 Alaska governor's race by Kyle Hopkins

About the blog: The race to become Alaska's next governor is on and it's about to get muddy. Grab your boots and follow the Daily News along the winding campaign trail.

Contact: thetrail@adn.com

Blog : Alaska Politics

Halcro answers pot question

Posted by thetrail

Posted: August 7, 2006 - 11:48 am

Andrew Halcro sent e-mails on Saturday looking to more directly answer the pot question. (As in, has he smoked it?)

A story that ran Sunday reported that he called it an inappropriate question and declined to say yes or no.

Here’s what he wrote over the weekend:

After reading my own words about “Straight Talk

5 August 9, 2006 - 9:07am | lauriejo_6

Halcro's dope smoking

With so many important issues facing our state I could care less whether or not Halcro did, does, or will smoke pot. Issues are what really matter to people who vote in every election. The question should never have been asked because it has no bearing on how he will move this state forward. It seems the only people who care about the pot issue are people who smoke it and want the rest of us to say it's ok. All that 4:20 stuff seems a bit immature.

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August 9, 2006 - 10:32pm | disenchanted01

Over 200k Alaskans voted to

Over 200k Alaskans voted to keep it decriminalized. It's not a non-issue, and Halcro's honesty is refreshing in the shadow of Frank's constant deceit. Maybe some would rather see money really put into education rather than into more prisons in a state that already has eighteen of them. If marijuana is such a non-issue, why is it Frank had to threaten and blackmail the legislature into signing his must-have legislation? Some Alaskans like that kind of politics, and some of us don't. That Halcro had the honesty to admit indulging puts him lengths ahead of the liars who won't. Posting here is kind of pointless, it's obviously a private forum. So be it.

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August 10, 2006 - 1:44pm | lauriejo_6

I APOLAJIZE

I did not mean to insinuate that pot is a non issue. It just seems that for many people it is the only issue. You mentioned education and prisons in your response, and those are the issues that should move people to go the polls. frank trying to move legislation about marijuana is nothing more than a play to a ultra conservative base. I think Halcro is more likely to lose rather than gain support on the issue, [at least from this states conservative majority].

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August 17, 2006 - 10:20am | disenchanted01

Educate Not Legislate

Alaska currently has over 10,900 adults under correctional supervision (prisons,jail, probation, parole)750 are housed in a private-for-profit prison in AZ. With an incarceration rate of 423/100k population Ak ranks higher than half the other states in incarceration, a chilling note next to our 49th in Education ranking. Alaskans are being LIED to, its not about social good, its about MONEY. It's about control. When 1 in 15 Alaskans is already a convicted felon, the problem is no longer crime, its the law. The case load in the PubDef office is over 100 per attorney, and most cases take 2 years to get to court. The problem is BAD law, lots of it, coming from a state capitol most of the citizens have never been close to. Secluded in Juneau our legislators have demoted us to subjects. "The right to privacy will not be abridged"(AK Const, 2nd paragraph) is not that hard to comprehend. Is it? Halcro may be the only HONEST politician left in the state, too bad odds are he won't even make the ballot. Incarceration will not solve Alaska's problems and any damn fool should be able to recognize that.

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August 17, 2006 - 10:26am | disenchanted01

Noticed the error...

There are 14 adult correctional facilities in Alaska.

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4 August 8, 2006 - 5:18pm | disenchanted01

All Halcro really needs is

All Halcro really needs is the votes of the supporters of legal or decriminalized marijuana to win the election. Over 200k Alaskans voted to keep marijuana decriminalized and for medical usage. He's got qualifications plus, experience,integrity, and backbone. Vote Halcro-420, pass it on.

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3 August 7, 2006 - 6:33pm | akpoliticalanimal

And another thing...

what was with Croft's wishy washy answer on choice? He thinks the issue of choice gets grayer as the baby becomes more viable? NOT pro-choice Mr. Croft...

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August 8, 2006 - 8:09am | meagancfoster

Roe v. Wade

Eric's comments mirror the Roe v. Wade decision. Eric has a 100 percent pro-choice record and was recently endorsed by the Juneau Pro-Choice Coalition.

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2 August 7, 2006 - 3:03pm | fitch575

Good idea

I am happy that instead of evading the question, candidate Halcro decided to come out with a straight answer.

I think even more importantly is the fact that he acknowledged the mistake, and then answered the question he dodged. Too often now people won't fess up to their mistakes even when they realize they made one.

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1 August 7, 2006 - 1:37pm | QueenBee

Halcro Rocks

Is Andrew Halcro awesome or what? Way to go. It has to be hard being in the public eye. You willingly open the door to your private life and are put on the spot regarding these kinds of questions. QB

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August 7, 2006 - 6:25pm | akpoliticalanimal

too late

why didn't he answer when asked? he waited to hear what everyone else said--let them go out on a limb first. not all that admirable.

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August 7, 2006 - 7:27pm | thetrail

timing

Just to be clear, Halcro sent that e-mail before the story was published. I was off Saturday and didn't see it.
-- Kyle

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August 7, 2006 - 7:54pm | akpoliticalanimal

i take it back then

my negative comment :)