SULLIVAN GAVE STATEMENT TO RCMP OVER DRUG BUYS

Mayor Sam Sullivan Came Clean, Regrets Nothing, But Probably Wouldn't
Do It Again.

Sullivan said yesterday he gave a full statement to police about
providing money to two drug addicts to enable them to buy drugs
between five and seven years ago.

Sullivan's actions are currently under RCMP review.

"I don't think I would do it again," Sullivan said outside city hall.
"It's not the way to solve the [drug] problem. I think you need to
work within the system to change things."

Sullivan admits giving $40 a day to a prostitute called Michele so
she could get drugs without working the street.

"I don't know whatever happened to her," he said. "She was a
wonderful young woman, who really had deep, deep troubles with drug addiction."

A couple of years later, Sullivan gave money to a crack addict named
Shawn to buy drugs and smoke them in Sullivan's vehicle.

Yesterday he blasted Vision Vancouver for turning his actions into an
issue during the last election campaign.

"This whole issue was driven by politics, not by the health of these
people," he said. "I'm not going to change the world by giving people
money for a few weeks."

Vision Vancouver Coun. Raymond Louie said it was important that
voters knew a potential mayor had provided money for the purchase of drugs.

"We need to respect the law, and in this case the mayor did not," said Louie.

RCMP Cpl. Tom Seaman said Mounties asked Sullivan to provide a
written statement.

"His statement will be reviewed and a decision will be made as to
where the investigation goes from here," he said. "He's been very
co-operative throughout the police investigation."