Pubdate: Fri, 29 Sep 2006 Source: North Bay Nugget (CN ON) Copyright: 2006 North Bay Nugget Contact: http://www.nugget.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2226 Author: Gord Young WEST NIP. FACES $50,000 UP IN SMOKE Pot Advocate Won't Drop Out Of Mayor's Race A pot advocate campaigning for a third time to become mayor of West Nipissing defended his democratic right this week to run for political office. Michel Ethier said Wednesday he has no plans to withdraw from the mayor's race even if he is the only candidate challenging incumbent Joanne Savage. "I have no intention of throwing in the towel," said Ethier. "If she wants to pull out . . . that's fine with me." With acclamations expected in each of the community's seven wards, there's talk on the street Ethier should withdraw his candidacy because the municipality will be required to finance as much as $50,000 for an election for a mayoral campaign that most residents won't take seriously. Savage said she would never suggest anyone should be forced to withdraw from an election campaign. But she said residents are upset at the possibility of footing the bill for an election only to hear a platform they've all heard before. "At what cost are you willing to make a point?" Savage asked. Ethier, 49, finished a distant third to winner Gary O'Connor and runner-up Raymond Brouillette in 1998 and garnered 63 votes in his second attempt at the mayor's seat in 2003. He has also run for the Marijuana Party in the last two federal elections. "I think it's unfortunate," said Ward 4 Coun. Yvon Marleau, suggesting Ethier reconsider his candidacy should no one else enter the race by today's 5 p.m. nomination deadline. Marleau, who has opted not to seek re-election, also acknowledges every resident's democratic right to run for office. But he said residents will have pay for Ethier to exercise that right for a third time, when he's not taken seriously in the community. Ethier, who's currently behind bars at North Bay Jail awaiting trial for marijuana-related charges, said he expects to be released next month in time to run his campaign. He was also behind bars during the 2003 election and blames so few votes on a poor campaign. Ethier said he doesn't doubt there's talk in the streets about the mayoral race, but insists he is a serious candidate. A minister with the pro-pot Church of the Universe, Ethier said he would like to see West Nipissing farmers embrace hemp as crop. With past pilot projects showing hemp can be grown as a legitimate a crop in Northern Ontario, Ethier said proper harvesting equipment is all that needed. He said there would then be potential in West Nipissing for a hemp processing plant. Ethier would also like to see the community embrace wind power. His platform also focuses on recycling and the environment, as well as de-amalgamation or increased government funding to cover ongoing costs that have been borne as a result of the move in 1999. - --- MAP posted-by: Elaine