POT ACTIVIST WANTS TO BE MAYOR

The race for the seats in Abbotsford's city council chamber began a little
earlier than expected.

Now out of the gate is the city's own firecracker mayoral candidate, Tim
Felger, who was erecting his election signs with his crew this weekend, 3
weeks before candidates are actually allowed to put out signs. One of them
is just down the street from city hall.

"I'm coming out early to show people I'm not afraid to break the rules to do
what's right. I'm not afraid to exercise my rights and I'm ready to do that
for other people, too," Felger said yesterday.

The Bradner resident and outspoken advocate for marijuana legalization
expects to be out in the community soon to let voters know he's in the
running. The first event Felger expects to appear is the Abbotsford Police
Fun Run this Saturday, he said.

Among the Abbotsford incumbents who will be running are current mayor George
Ferguson, Coun. Patricia Ross, Coun. Ed Fast and Coun. Chuck Wiebe.

There should also be some new faces in the race, including social activist
Uultsje DeJong.

The Abbotsford city chief election office begins accepting nominations for
civic positions 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. between Oct. 1 and 11 at the administration
department at City Hall, 32315 South Fraser Way.

Residents will vote in the Nov. 16 general civic elections to choose their
mayor, 8 city councillors and 7 school trustees.

Mission residents, who will be electing a mayor, 6 city councillors and a
roster of school trustees, can call Mission city hall at 604-820-3700 for
details.

The elected officials will serve for 3 years, from Dec. 2 of this year to
the end of November 2005.

The mayor can expect to be paid $62,000 a year while councillors earn
$20,871 annually.

Nomination packages have been available from city halls since the end of
August.

Voters will also be choosing new directors for the Fraser Valley Regional
District in the rural, non-incorporated areas such as Electoral Area H on
Sumas Mountain.

Nominations for these positions are available at the FVRD offices at 10220
North Deroche Rd., Deroche, or at 8430 Cessna Dr., Chilliwack. For
information call Suzanne Gresham at 1-800-528-0061.

Questions about Abbotsford's civic election should be directed to Mary Beth
MacKenzie, Chief Election Officer, at 604-864-5506. Online, people can go to
http://www.city.abbotsford.bc.ca and follow the links.