In stark contrast to the contentious nature that pockmarked Township politics for the past three years, Wednesday's all-candidates meeting at Langley Events Centre went smoothly and was absent of heckling.
That could be partly explained by the format chosen by the Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce which invited the audience to submit only written questions. No questions were allowed from the floor.
As many candidates were unable to keep to their allotted time for their introductions or responses, timekeeper Angie Quaale's hand never hovered far from the bell.
Incumbent councillor Bob Long got in the line of the night in response to a question which gauged support for a properly licensed medical marijuana dispensary in the Township.
The audience of several hundred laughed at his response: "No," Long said. "It should go in Langley City."
The issue has been a bone of contention in the City.
The question drew vastly different responses. Ben Penner, who is running with the Vote Langley Now slate, said he does not support a dispensary for medicinal marijuana. The drug should be available from a regulated pharmacy, he said.
Another slate candidate, Dorothy McKim, said that as a cancer survivor, she supports the idea. "It makes a huge difference," she said.
"It's something we should seriously be looking at," she said.
Murray Jones said he has friends who suffer from cancer and need marijuana to get them through chemotherapy.
"It's no different from the way the U.S. treated alcohol in the 1930s and '40s," he said.
Firefighter Dan Sheel said that in his 23 years in the emergency service, he has seen the fallout "when these things get into residential areas. There has got to be a better way. It (dispensaries) should not be in residential neighbourhoods."
Responding to a question on starting a dialogue with the City on a reunification study, Petrina Arnason said that redundancies must be examined, especially in the current economic climate. But even if there is no political will for a study, the Township should work with the City to find efficiencies, she said.
Calling it "an extremely positive step," Sonya Paterson said that most Langley residents would vote in favour of a study.
"It's a discussion that needs to take place," she said.
Vote Langley Now candidate Carla Robin said yes to dialogue, adding that there is a process that could be looked at "but I'd say that at this point amalgamation is a non-issue."
Bert Chen, a member of the Langley Unification Association, said that with 15,000 Township residents signing a petition "there is overwhelming support" for a study.
On a question that gauged candidates' support for "re-opening the antiquated Brookswood Community Plan and ensure that the downtown remains vibrant," Rick Manuel said that while canvassing in that community, he has found support for that process, which he too endorses.
"I think it's time that Brookswood was looked at again," said Kim Richter, adding that a lot of people have "waited patiently" for that opportunity.
Vote Langley Now candidate Tony Malyk supported the notion, urging caution so that the bad decisions in Willoughby and the Bedford Langley development in Fort Langley where there was "sizable and passionate" opposition from council, are not repeated.
"People should decide (and) council would be the lever that makes it happen."
Responding to a question on high density to bring in more public transit, Rebecca Darnell said she did not believe that high density should be encouraged only to get transit. She advocates a mix of housing and emphasis on preserving farmland.
On how to deal with Langley's rising crime, Grant Ward said that stopping drugs will stop crime, and Misty vanPopta said that she would like to see crime prevention strategies that focus more on youth.
Asked if they supported an incinerator in Langley to burn waste, David Davis said yes "because I don't like passing the buck" to other municipalities.
Asked for a solution to working with Langley City for overpasses and other infrastructure, Terry Sheldon supported that idea, adding that "perhaps we can get more money out of the government to build overpasses."
To the question about a bylaw to restrict homeowners from chopping down trees, and a bylaw requiring trees to be replaced, Wayne Crossen said that people should have the right to remove trees if they are a nuisance or a danger. He said he did not like clear-cutting.
Among the other topics posed by the public were mobile business licences which would give business owners one licence to conduct business in more than one municipality; housing; transportation; expanding a web registry of homes where illicit drug operations have taken place; silencing cannons to scare birds from blueberry plantations; increasing the number of firefighters manning each shift in order to meet WorkSafe BC standards, and expanding cycling infrastructure.
The three mayoral candidates, Jack Froese, Rick Green (VLN) and Mel Kositsky also attended. See more about them in Tuesday's Times, and on this website.
Other candidates seeking one of the eight councillor seats were Tyler DeBoer (VLN), Bev Dornan, Steve Ferguson, Charlie Fox, Carey Poitras, Clive Rippingale, Michelle Sparrow, Dave Stark (VLN) and Glen Tomblin (VLN).