JAILED POT ADVOCATE TO RUN FOR MAYOR IN WEST NIPISSING

WEST NIPISSING, Ont. - A marijuana advocate says he expects to be
released from jail in time to campaign to become mayor of this
northeastern Ontario town.

Speaking from a North Bay, Ont., jail, Michel Ethier said Wednesday
he has no plans to withdraw from the race even if he is the only
candidate challenging incumbent Joanne Savage.

"I have no intention of throwing in the towel," said Ethier, who is
awaiting trial for marijuana related offences. "If she wants to pull
out ... that's fine with me."

With acclamations expected in each of the community's seven wards,
some residents have said Ethier should withdraw because it could cost
the municipality as much as $50,000 for a mayoral campaign that most
voters 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.

Ethier, 49, finished a distant third in 1998 and garnered 63 votes in
his second run at the mayor's seat in 2003.