ERB OFFERS THE HERB

MAYORAL candidate Bob Erb latched onto an innovative way to get his vote
out - offer voters free marijuana and a ride to the polls. That's exactly
what he did Nov. 13, the day of the advance poll 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.

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
offering 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 visitors.

The Terrace Marijuana Party candidate said he had five drivers with
vehicles available to take voters to the advance poll.

Erb said he wanted to make sure he got some votes. "At least I'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 provincial election, free pot was on offer at a similar
open house he hosted with B.C. Marijuana Party leaders. His actions this
time could be taken as a technical breach of election laws.

Section 151 of the Local Government Act, which covers vote buying,
prohibits anyone from giving money, gifts, refreshments, entertainment, and
"any other benefit of any kind" to induce someone to vote for or against a
particular candidate.

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 gotten the taste for politics though.

He ran first for provincial 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. Because I'm coming at you in '04 - that's for certain."