A2 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, November 20, 2002 Mayor asked cops to lay off Marijuana Party opponent MAYOR JACK Talstra met with Terrace’s top cop be- cause he feared any drug investigation of Marijuana Party challenger Bob Erb during the election might ap: pear politically motivated. Talstra - whose law firm handles federal drug prose- cutions here — said he urged RCMP Inspector Marlin Degrand to use caution because he didn’t’ want to be ac- cused of directing police forces against his mayoral op- ponent. “| asked them to lay off Bob,” Talstra said Noy. 14, two days before voting day. “I don’t need that.” Talstra said the sensitivity of the situation was heightened because of his job and professional duties re- lating to Erb — who has been the subject of police: drug investigations and proseculions in the pasl. “I’m a federal prosecutor,” Talstra said. “I have his files in my office. I know more about him than anybody. But it’s confidential material. 1 haven*t said anything Erb offers the herb MAYORAL candidate Bob Erb latched onto an inno- vative way to get his vote out ~ offer voters free mar- ijuana and a ride to the polls. That’s exactly what he_ did Nov. 13, the day of the advance pol! in Terrace. Erb didn’t take the mayor’s chair from Jack Talstra, and clerks said the . turnout was no heavier - than in previous years. Indeed, two 18-year-old Caledonia students were among those who voted and then headed straight to the carpenters hall — where Erb held an open house of- fering free marijuana, pop, sandwiches and snacks. “There’s a box of pot up there and people can help themselves to that,” Erb said, as he welcomed vi- sitors. The Terrace Marijuana about it and ] wouldn't.” Degrand says it was a short conversation. “Mayor Talstra spoke with me very briefly about the election,” Degrand said. “He didn’t want the appearance that the RCMP. were acting in-a manner to. support him.” ‘Degrand said he assured Talstra that police investiga- . tions aren’t. motivated by politics or timed-to elections. “I said ‘No’'sir, even if you wanted to you couldn't in- fluence us,’" Degrand said. “I assured him we wouldn’ t discuss an ‘investigation with him if one was ongoing.” ~ “We would never deem it anywhere close to ap- propriate to intervene in a mayoral election.” Deprand said RCMP here were ‘not aware that Erb was providing free marijuana at an open house he held last Wednesday, the day of the advance poll, at the car- penters hall. Had they been, he said, they would have investigated it as an apparent case of marijuana trafficking. UNSUCCESSFUL mayoralty candidate Bob Erb of the B.C. Marijuana Party had refreshments and pot on offer at an open house held Nov. 13, the same day as the advance poll, He also offered rides to the polis. Party candidate said he had five drivers with vehi- cles available to take vo- ters to the advance poll. Erb said he wanted to make sure he got some votes. “At least P’'m not skunked,” he said. He estimated his open’: house attracted more than 150 visitors through the course of the day — many younger supporters. “We've had a_ steady stream all day,” Erb said. It wasn’t the first time an Erb campaign offered free marijuana. When he ran in the pro- vincial electian, free pot was on offer at a similar open house he hosted with B.C. Marijuana Party lea- ders. His actions this time could be taken as a tech- nical breach of election laws. Section 151 of the Local Government Act, which covers vote buying, prohibits anyone from giv- CALEDONIA FINE ARTS 2002 MUSICAL R.E.M. 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Similar gifts are also prohibited “to reward a person for having voted.” Returning officer Elaine Johnson said she had not received any complaints related to Erb’s open house. “I don’t know whether that’s an inducement or not,” Johnson said of the free marijuana. Erb has apparently got- ten the taste for politics + though. He ran first for provin- cial election in 2001, then in a municipal by-election, and this time for mayor, He’s now planning to try to knock off Skeena © MP Andy Burton in the next federal election. Erb already has his next campaign jingle figured out: “Don’t sleep, don’t snore, Andy Burton, Be- cause I’m coming at you in ‘04 — that’s for certain.” Monarch CABLESYSTEMS LTD. M-Net is Convenient! Connect through your existing cable line. Nc Net t does not tie up your phone line.