SIEFKEN TRADES GREEN FOR GREEN

He still has ties to the federal Marijuana party, but Norm Siefken has
decided to change his political stripes by standing on May 17 for the
Green party in the Chilliwack-Sumas riding.

Siefken is still the Western Canada leader for the federal Marijuana
party, but said yesterday he wants to broaden his political outlook by
representing a party in the provincial election that will challenge
for seats in the legislature.

"There has been a lot of growth. The Greens will be presenting a
serious challenge to the B.C. Liberals," Siefken said.

Siefken, who stood provincially as the Marijuana party candidate for
Chilliwack-Sumas in 2001, says he still "fully supports" the Marijuana
party's mandate but doubts whether the organization will get beyond a
two or three per cent support level province-wide.

He now says that with the Greens supporting marijuana legalization, it
is time to make the switch.

"I have never really been comfortable with a one-issue party," Siefken
said. "I feel the timing is right to get involved with a mainstream
party. I feel good about the Green party and I believe I will be the
main challenger that John Les has to worry about."

Apart from Liberal incumbents Mike de Jong (Abbotsford-Mt. Lehman),
John van Dongen (Abbotsford-Clayburn) and John Les (Sumas-Chilliwack),
Siefken is so far the only candidate to have forwarded his name
locally for the May 17 election.