Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 14, 1990 TAG: 9003143250
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A6 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
Barry, who returned to the nation's capital Tuesday after six weeks of substance-abuse treatment, said he has no plans to resign but stopped short of announcing that he will run for a fourth term.
"I'm not going to announce any decisions today," Barry said as supporters chanted "Four more years."
"My political organization is still intact, despite some defections . . . we will announce some plans in the very near future," he said.
Barry entered a Florida treatment center three days after his Jan. 18 arrest on a cocaine possession charge, and enrolled in a South Carolina treatment program on Feb. 22. During his absence, a federal grand jury returned the indictments.
He said Tuesday that he was suffering from alcoholism and from addiction to Valium and Xanax, two anti-anxiety prescription drugs.
Top aides have said privately that Barry also was suffering from a problem with cocaine.
The Democratic mayor's return to the nation's capital resembled a campaign speech in a number of ways. The address was given in a downtown municipal building packed with city employees who repeatedly interrupted Barry's address with cheering.
Barry gave a generally upbeat speech in which he stressed his continuing recovery from substance abuse and desire to serve the city. However, he refused to comment on the eight-count criminal indictment, except for a confident prediction that "the truth will come out in the trial."
The indictment was returned on Feb. 15, nearly a month after the FBI videotaped Barry allegedly smoking crack cocaine in a downtown hotel room with a female friend.
Barry's remaining supporters were taking a wait-and-see attitude toward a possible re-election campaign.
"We're supposed to meet in the next couple of days to hear what his decision is," fund-raiser Jeffrey Gildenhorn said.
by CNB