Brad Owen Is Targeted By Agencies He’s Accused Of Improper Campaign Against Initiative

Two state agencies are investigating Lt. Gov. Brad Owen’s involvement in a campaign against an initiative seeking dramatic changes to Washington’s drug laws.

Owen, elected last year on an anti-drug platform, has been accused of conducting an opposition campaign to Initiative 685 without registering a political committee and disclosing the source of his resources, as equired by law. A separate complaint alleged that Owen violated a state law prohibiting elected officials from using public facilities to promote or oppose a ballot measure.

The complaints are being reviewed by the Public Disclosure Commission and the Executive Ethics Board, respectively.

The state’s second-in-command denied any wrongdoing, noting that he was campaigning against illegal drug use long before the initiative was filed with the secretary of state.

“Just because they file an initiative isn’t going to stop Brad Owen from talking about drugs. I campaigned on it, for crying out loud,” Owen said Monday.

Initiative 685 would legalize the medical use of marijuana, heroin and other drugs and change sentencing laws to require that people convicted of drug possession undergo treatment in lieu of prison - a provision that could prompt the release of several hundred inmates.

The measure also would deny parole to anyone convicted of a violent crime committed while under the influence of illegal drugs, and it would dedicate $6 million a year for treatment and education programs.

The initiative is sponsored by Dr. Rob Killian, a Tacoma physician, and enjoys the financial backing of two millionaire businessmen, John Sperling of Arizona and Peter Lewis of Ohio. Sperling and Lewis have contributed $747,000 of the $748,000 raised so far by the campaign, according to finance reports.

The most vocal opponents so far have been Owen and King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng, who joined forces in a group called Concerned Citizens Against Dangerous Drugs.

The group registered recently with the Public Disclosure Commission, but hadn’t reported any spending as of Monday.