Senate Confirms Martinez as Drug Control Director

The Senate, by a vote of 88 to 12, confirmed former Florida Gov. Bob Martinez on Thursday as the nation’s drug control policy director.

Martinez, 56, succeeds William J. Bennett, who resigned in November after 20 months on the job.

Martinez encountered some criticism from Democrats who said that his drug-fighting program in Florida was lopsided in favor of law enforcement and prison expansion, with too little emphasis on drug prevention and treatment.

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) argued that Martinez’s Administration “contributed to a worsening cycle of addiction, arrest and the return of violent criminals to the streets. That cycle might have been broken if the state had made more treatment available to more substance abusers in the first place.”

Kennedy and 11 other Democrats voted against Martinez.

However, during floor debate, Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-Del.) told his colleagues that Martinez “personally believes that education and treatment do work in reducing drug abuse.”

Florida Democratic Sen. Bob Graham said, “Bob Martinez is well prepared to carry out this responsibility.” And Sen. Connie Mack (R-Fla.) said that, as a result of Martinez’s efforts, “Florida was evaluated by federal agents as a role model” in fighting drug abuse.