COUNCILLOR ADMITS COKE USE

Surrey Coun. Gary Robinson admitted yesterday he is a reformed cocaine
user.

"It was becoming a problem," said Robinson. "I made a bad choice. I'm
correcting it."

He will continue to serve despite calls from Mayor Doug McCallum to
take a paid leave of absence.

Robinson started using cocaine "off and on" about eight months ago.
Feeling exhausted, he liked what it did for him.

The problem spun out of control when instead of making him feel
better, it made him feel worse.

"We had a family meeting," said Robinson, 42, who has a wife and two
sons. "I decided to quit."

He claimed his council work was up to standard, despite a poor
attendance record.

"Until this story came out, no one questioned my ability," said the
12-year veteran, adding that he was never high at council.

He admitted someone tried to blackmail him, threatening exposure if a
sum of money wasn't paid. He realizes the revelations will cause a
public frenzy.

"My family knows everything," said Robinson, who works for CN. "I'm
getting counselling. I'm still relatively healthy. I've got lots to
accomplish."

A member of the Surrey Civic Electors, he was criticized by Coun.
Judith Higginbotham in August for attending a golf tournament while
missing council.

He was granted a three-month paid leave of absence in April after
complaining of anemia, a deficiency of red-blood cells.

McCallum said Robinson's health should be the priority.

"A councillor's position is very stressful," said McCallum, whose
Surrey Electors Team rules council. "I encourage him to take a
six-month leave of absence."

The Surrey mayor questioned Robinson's work ethic two weeks ago at the
Union of B.C. Municipalities meeting in Penticton.

"He didn't go to any meetings," said McCallum. "That type of behaviour
starts to add up."

Robinson said he won't take a leave and stills plan to run for mayor
in 1999.

Checked-by: Rich O'Grady