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. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom