Pioneer Pupils Hear Garris, Harris On Drugs, Rock, Police

Drug use and abuse and other pertinent concerns of the younger generation occupied center stage yesterday afternoon when Ann Arbor's two main mayoral candidates - Robert J. Harris and Jack J. Garrís - tangled verbally before an occasionally hooting student audience at Pioneer High School. Apart from drugs, the April Fool's Day debate touched on rock concerts, police in the schools, the use of electronic surveillance equipment by police and the recent firing of Human Rights Department assistant director Robert Hunter. Incumbent Democratic Mayor Harris reiterated the position he has taken throughout the campaign in regard to the control of drug abuse. He endorsed the recommendations of the Mayor's Blue Ribbon Committee on Drug Abuse and stated his support for the local ordinance which reduces the penalties for possession of marijuana. He said it is "hypocritical" of society to differentiate between the misuse of alcohol and marijuana. "I believe if we want respect for the laws then equal things better be treated equal," he contended. Republican mayoral challenger Garris, however, was not in agreement with the mayor, as is frequently the case. He said he opposed the "legalization" of marijuana because medical evidence showed it can be harmful. "I want you to go home and tell your parents that my opponent stands for the legalization of marijuana," Garris told the audience, at which point many dents began heckling him and temporarily drowned out his comments. When quiet was restored, Garris proceeded to inform the students that "the drug pusher is your worst enemy. . . You can enjoy the pleasures of life without either drugs or alcohol." Going from marijuana use into the question of hard drug distribution, Harris responded to a student question on what he proposed to do to keep hard drugs, and particularly heroin, out of the black community. The incumbent mayor said increased cooperation between local police agencies should result in "benefits" in the form of more arrests and prosecutions for the sale of heroin. In addition, he again spoke in favor of implementing a regional task force to crack down on heroin traffic. Harris also said a state grant will permit the opening of two local heroin treatment centers, one in Arm Arbor and one in Ypsilanti. "You can never fully rehabilitate a heroin addict," answered Garris. He then said he wanted to put the hard drug pusher out of business through a "task force" of youths who would report to police incidents of heroin pushing. "The black community has been short-changed more than anyone else by the present administration," Garris charged. Other samplings of the candidates' opinions on certain issues discussed during the debate: On rock concerts: "I appreciate and enjoy rock music. ... We will have rock concerts in Ann Arbor but sponsored by responsible people and not those who sponsored them last summer," Garris stated. "I don't think the issuance of rock concert permits should be based on political philosophies. ... I believe we showed last summer that we can have order and good music without resorting to meat axe solutions," Harris said. On Hunter's firing: "This is a departmental matter and I will not intervene at the present time. ... I will abide by the court decision in the case," Harris stated. (Hunter took his dismissal to Federal District Court in Detroit where a judge's decision in the matter is now pending.) "Any public remark on this subject could prejudice the case. . . . The firing shouldn't be made a political football," Garris said. On electronic surveillance equipment being used by pólice: "I'm not af raid that my phone will be tapped. I wonder if Mayor Harris has that kind of confidence," Garris stated. On Monday's election: "As much as I can tell, it's a neck and neck race my opponent and myself. ... I think the stakes in the city of Ann Arbor are enormous. ... I need your (the students') help in this campaign even though you can't vote," Harris said. Both men indicated they would continue using police in the high schools for security reasons and to curtail incidents of student intimidation by other students. Garris implied more police in other schools might even become necessary, while Harris said the one plainclothes officer stationed at both Pioneer and Huron High Schools was put there at the school board's request.