UNION GAP RESIDENTS CLAIM DELAY IN DRUG TESTS

UNION GAP -- Some residents is this small town wonder what's taking
so long for elected officials to complete voluntary drug tests.

"If they were serious about showing us that they had it together,
then they would have done it all at once. But them lingering gives
the appearance that they are cleaning something out of their
system," said Union Gap resident and activist Andrea Vasquez.

Mayor Aubrey Reeves gave council members the option last week of
taking a voluntary drug test at the city's expense. His offer came
after Councilman Dale Glaspey's Dec. 13 arrest for allegedly selling
cocaine to an informant.

"Some (council members) asked me to make it available because they
didn't want to be labeled as drug users," Reeves said.

Testing is being offered at Valley Medi-Center in Union Gap. The
cost is $42.50 per test or $340 for all seven council members and the mayor.

To date only three elected officials -- Reeves and Councilmen Jim
Lemon and Glenn Bateman -- have taken urine tests. So far Lemon is
the only one to receive his results, which showed he's clean.

The remaining council members support the idea of drug testing for
elected officials and all say they plan on being tested this week.

"I think it's a great thing, and it's long overdue. If we expect our
employees to do it, then we should be doing it," said Councilman
Dave Butler, who planned on taking his test this week.

Councilmen Roger Wentz and Dan Vanover say they have recently taken
drug tests for employment purposes and offered to either submit
those records or retake the tests.

Many city officials agree any council member testing positive for
drug use should step down.

"If a person is found doing drugs, then they should have to step
down," said Councilwoman Toni Web. "That's not what representing
your city is all about."

Vasquez and Lemon are also questioning the method of reporting the
results of city officials' tests.

Lemon chose to have his original test result report to City Hall and
have a copy mailed to his home. But Reeves said each elected
official gets to decide where the test results are sent. In
addition, it's unclear if the test results can be requested as
public documents by residents.

"What if a council member comes up dirty? Does it get swept under
the rug?" asks Vasquez. "There needs to be some sort of board or
person responsible for looking over the results."

Elected officials can't be required to take random drug tests, and
if a voluntary tests shows drug use, there are no clear provisions
for penalties, said Pat Mason, legal counsel for the Municipal
Research Service Center, the Seattle-based nonprofit that
provides resources for local governments.