bender also ran in the 2007 ontario general elections as an independent candidate, coming in fourth place ahead of the family coalition, a branch of the christian heritage party. he won a total vote count of 632 votes, casting himself as a social liberal, fiscal conservative. bender has organized and registered with elections canada, the oxford marijuana party, effective february, 2007. he lives in woodstock with his partner and two children, one of whom is autistic.