Senator M. Mandy Dawson
District 30
Democrat
Posted on 10/17/2002 5:43:23 AM PDT by LO_IQ
Nearly a week after turning herself in to Tallahassee authorities on prescription drug-fraud charges, state Sen. Mandy Dawson on Wednesday told constituents she is considering entering a drug-rehabilitation program and will continue to run for reelection.
A Leon County prosecutor said entering rehab could result in the charges against the Fort Lauderdale Democrat -- obtaining and attempting to obtain controlled substances by fraud -- being dropped.
''I have done nothing wrong,'' Dawson said in a letter to voters that The Herald obtained from WPLG-ABC 10. ``One of the drugs that I have been prescribed is habit-forming, and while it provides much needed relief, it may become necessary for me to undergo rehabilitation in this regard.''
Despite her legal troubles, the Fort Lauderdale Democrat plans this week to resume an active campaign for her District 29 seat, according to her letter and a close political ally, state Rep. Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale.
''She's going to start doing public appearances now,'' said Smith, adding that Dawson plans to hold a news conference Friday.
She is seeking reelection on Nov. 5 in the district, which snakes along Interstate 95 from Fort Lauderdale to Riviera Beach. Her only opposition: Fred Segal, a candidate with no party affiliation who said he does not plan to make her legal troubles a campaign issue.
Dawson was booked and released on $2,500 bond at the Leon County Jail in Tallahassee on Friday.
Prosecutors have begun collecting information, including police reports, on the case, according to Leon County Assistant State Attorney Paul Driver.
If convicted of the third-degree felony, Dawson -- who allegedly changed a 60-pill prescription for the painkiller Lorcet-10 to one for 160 pills -- would be removed from office and sentenced to a maximum of five years in prison.
Dawson has said in the past that she has used the drug, Lorcet-10, for several years for migraines. She had previously apologized for chronic tardiness and missed votes starting in the 2000 session, saying she was slowed by painkillers prescribed for severe headaches.
She continued to miss votes before she underwent surgery in March for degenerative spinal disks.
Dawson, who struggled as a single mother in the 1980s, was charged in 1986 with felony grand theft for allegedly writing nine bad checks to grocery and retail stores. The charge was dropped after she paid $1,105 in restitution.
Now that something else to chew on
Sounds like she's well on her way to recovery.
Hey, I thought (according to the New Jersey Supreme Court) that the voters were entitled to a choice of candidates. Where's the Republican candidate? I say suspend everything until we can dig one up (literally, if we have to).
And then I read this: Dawson has said in the past that she has used the drug, Lorcet-10, for several years for migraines. She had previously apologized for chronic tardiness and missed votes starting in the 2000 session, saying she was slowed by painkillers prescribed for severe headaches.
And then I saw this and started REALLY wondering about why this woman was elected in the first place:
Dawson, who struggled as a single mother in the 1980s, was charged in 1986 with felony grand theft for allegedly writing nine bad checks to grocery and retail stores. The charge was dropped after she paid $1,105 in restitution.
Funny. That sounds a lot like the same US House scheme that got Rostenkowski in trouble.
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