[420 Girl]

ROCHESTER - A vocal government watchdog is urging the mayor to consider seeking the resignation of two School Board members who, as state legislators, voted to decriminalize marijuana. But Mayor John Larochelle isn't eager to take that road.

"I'd like to hear why they voted that way" instead of "being reactive and asking for their resignation," he said.

In one of two e-mails fired off to Larochelle and the City Council on Monday, Fred Leonard said the mayor should stand up for students and "rid our school leadership" of Bill Brennan and Pamela Hubbard because they lacked "good judgment."

The legislators voted last week in favor of House Bill 1623, while School Board Chair Bob Watson, also a Democratic representative, voted against the proposal.

The city's legislative delegation, absent one member who did not vote, split 5-2 in favor of the measure.

The proposal would make possession of one-quarter ounce or less of marijuana a violation punishable by a $200 fine. Under current law, possessing that amount is a misdemeanor that carries a $2,000 fine and could land someone in jail for a year.

The bill now moves to the Senate, where chances of passage appear slim, and Gov. John Lynch has said he would veto it if it got to his desk.

Hubbard, a retired teacher, said she stands by her vote.

"To have that on a young person's record, or to make it impossible for him or her to apply and get any sort of federal money for college, seems like a penalty that is far greater than the crime," she said, stressing the bill would not legalize the drug.

"In no way does it imply I condone the use of drugs," Hubbard added. Leonard, who ran for School Board last year and has two teenage sons in the school district, said Brennan and Hubbard sent a "terrible message" -- that "it's OK if you have a small amount of pot."

That stands in contrast with the school district's zero-tolerance policy on drugs, he said.

First-time student offenders in possession of an illegal drug are suspended, with the ability to attend the teen drug court, and a second offense carries expulsion, Hubbard said.

The proposal's supporters said young people caught with a small quantity of the drug should not lose the chance for college aid and other government assistance.

But Leonard said decriminalizing would create a loophole for people who get caught but escape having the offense on their record and then go to work in a school.

"We can have drug abusers within reach of our children," he said.

Larochelle said he's concerned with the fallout for someone caught possessing a small amount of a drug. He said the repercussions could lead to more drug use if the person, with a criminal record, is thrown off a career track.

"It might be that this vote is a very good way to start a dialogue of what works for fighting drugs," Larochelle said. "This idea of decriminalizing might not be a bad idea."

A phone message left for Brennan was not immediately returned.

Leonard's e-mails followed news Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta called for the resignation of his city's school district spokesman who, as a member of the House, also voted for the bill, which passed 193-141.

Leonard said he requested Larochelle look into the votes because he's the city's chief representative.


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