Pubdate: Fri, 17 Oct 2008
Source: Abbotsford Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2008 The Abbotsford Times
Contact:  http://www.abbotsfordtimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1009
Authors: Marcia Downham, and Paul Fontaine
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Felger  (Tim Felger)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

FELGER HINTS THE END IS NEARER FOR POLITICS

 From putting up signs for past provincial and federal candidates 
such as current MLA John van Dongen and former Abbotsford MP Randy 
White to being the lone Marijuana Party candidate, or Radical 
Marijuana Party as it was listed on the ballots, in B.C. - it has 
been a long road for Tim Felger.

Tuesday night, as he waited for the results in his shop Da Kine, it 
looked as if that journey might be coming to an end.

"I'm just really at the end of my wits ... it's been a really brutal 
election," said Felger, an entrepreneur who made his money by 
starting a Domino's Pizza franchise in B.C. in 1986 and later started 
a new chain, Express Pizza, in Abbotsford.

Among the list of abuses Felger said he has been through in this 
election are threats, people urinating in his mailbox and throwing 
feces at his window.

After running in a number of civic elections, including the upcoming 
November election where he will be running for a seat on council, 
Felger said his time in the electoral spotlight might be dimming. 
Even collecting 100 signatures in order to be eligible as a candidate 
was a struggle.

"I've pretty much given up on politics," said a visibly upset Felger.

The anti-drug prohibition activist said he has reached out into the 
community, having worked with the Children's Hospital and Athletes in 
Action in the past and has worked with the school system and used to 
be the sponsor of the City Basketball Tournament.

As the results started to come in from across the country, Felger 
said adding the word "Radical" before Marijuana Party was another 
move by Ottawa to discourage voters.

"My name here is the Federal Marijuana Party of Abbotsford," said 
Felger. "I don't think it's right."

Felger, as was predicted by many pundits, finished last out of the 
five candidates with 358 votes (0.7 per cent of the total votes).

But as he walked around his store, before the final numbers were 
known, he calmly showed off his goods - and hung prominently in the 
middle of his store, among his bongs and pipes, is a framed copy of 
the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom