Voters won’t go to the polls until late October, but the muncipal election season is already getting into full swing in the Langleys.
So far the list of candidates includes a mix of veterans and newcomers, with a few sitting council members hoping to move into the mayor’s seat, come autumn.
In Langley Township, 11 candidates have so far announced their intention to run for office or seek re-election, while one council member, Charlie Fox, has said he will step away after four terms. Rather than run again as a councillor, Kim Richter will try to unseat Mayor Jack Froese.
In Langley City, one sitting councillor, Nathan Pachal, has officially announced that he will seek another term, and three newcomers have thrown their hats in the ring.
Meanwhile City Coun. Paul Albrecht and Coun. Val VandenBroek will each take a run at the mayorship after Ted Schaffer revealed last fall that he will be stepping away from politics due to health concerns. Former City Mayor Peter Fassbender, who left municipal politics to serve one term as Liberal MLA for Surrey-Fleetwood, is not ruling out another run at the mayor’s chair.
Township of Langley candidates for councillors include: Craig Teichrieb, Steve Ferguson, Michelle Sparrow, Bev Dornan, Margaret Kunst, Stacey Wakelin, Angie Quaale, Michael Pratt, Gail Chaddock-Costello, Blair Whitmarsh and Jonathan Houweling.
Coun. Kim Richter will campaign for Township mayor in 2018, while incumbent mayor Jack Froese is seeking his third term.
Langley Board of Education candidates are Candy Ashdown, Marnie Wilson, David Todd, Suzanne Perreault and Megan Dykeman. (Editor’s note: There was an error in the list of trustee candidates in last week’s issue.)