AIDING CRACK ADDICT 'RECKLESS'

Fitness To Chair Police Board As Mayor Questioned

Would-be Vancouver mayor Sam Sullivan slammed Vision Vancouver for
desperation tactics yesterday after one of the party's candidates said
Sullivan's decision, years ago, to give a young addict money to buy
crack cocaine raised questions about his fitness to be mayor.

Raymond Louie recalled the incident during a municipal candidates'
forum held by radio station AM1320 at the Crystal Mall in Burnaby.

Louie, Vision Vancouver mayoral hopeful Jim Green, Sullivan and other
Vancouver candidates jousted on a stage in a food court over issues
ranging from housing to taxes.

But the most pointed attack came on Sullivan's actions years ago while
he was a councillor.

Louie said Sullivan's conduct raised questions about the NPA
candidate's fitness to chair the police board, one of the mayor's duties.

"How do we have confidence that you will not continue this type of
reckless behaviour in buying drug addicts drugs?" Louie asked during
the forum, largely held in Cantonese with help from
interpreters.

Sullivan has admitted he gave a young addict $10 to buy crack in the
city's Downtown Eastside and then let the man smoke it in his van.
Sullivan said the incident was a sincere effort to understand the
problems of people with addictions.

He said he was trying to deter the man from breaking into a car to get
cash for drugs.

"In retrospect, I don't think I made the right decision, but I made it
truly trying to stop somebody from stealing and save somebody from
getting their car broken into -- and to help this poor person."

He added: "I believe the kind of personal attacks on me demonstrate
kind of the desperation of Vision Vancouver, who really feel they
might lose this election if they don't attack me personally."

Louie later said he was not satisfied with Sullivan's
answer.

While he acknowledged Sullivan was never charged with anything, Louie
noted that "it doesn't mean that behaviour should be excused."