Winters Leads Kick-off For Anti-Meth Task Force Fundraising Effort

Senator Jackie Winters of Salem

(SALEM) - State Senator Jackie Winters (R-Salem)kicked off an Anti-Meth Task Force fundraising effort at the Grand Ballroom Wednesday that she says involves interests from all levels of government and the private sector.

“Today, we come together to say with one loud and strong voice; meth has no place in our neighborhoods,” stated Winters. “One in three people in Marion County are adversely affected by methamphetamine and it is my hope that we are turning the corner towards a better tomorrow for them.”

The goal of the event was to pool the financial resources of the business community to help create a strike force made up of law enforcement agencies across the county. The strike force will target those individuals who make and sell meth. Dave Heffner, President of Professional Mortgage in Salem, will chair the subsequent fundraising effort.

“Our community’s support for this project has gone far beyond anything we could have imagined,” Winters said. “I am proud of the way we have taken ownership of the problem and come together to solve it.” In addition to the money raised at Wednesday’s event a local member of the community, who wishes to remain anonymous, has pledged $150,000. The Legislature will also be asked to support the effort when its Emergency Board meets in November.

A July survey of Marion County residents found that about 36% had been directly affected by meth. Not all survey respondents knew someone who used the drug but they were affected by the identity theft, home robberies and car thefts addicts use to finance their habit.

The event came out of a Legislative Task Force co-chaired by Winters and Senate President Peter Courtney (D-Salem). The group is made up of leaders from government, business, community and faith based groups.