After consulting his family and realizing the value of his good health, Charlie Fox has decided to run for a seat on Township council.
But the two-time incumbent councillor will not run for mayor, as some had speculated. He said he had served “with pride and a strong sense of accomplishment” during those two terms.
He said that council is where he feels most comfortable and where he can make the greatest difference.
“Living, working and volunteering in the Langley community for 38 years has given me an appreciation and understanding of what a great community we live in,” Fox said.
A Rotarian for 30 years, Fox is chairman of the board of the Transplant Research Foundation of B.C., and board vice-chairman of Aldergrove Neighbourhood Services, past president of Langley Little League and past president of Aldergrove Minor Hockey. A parishioner at St. Dunstan’s Anglican Church, Fox is the recipient of several local awards that acknowledge his community work.
He said he is proud of the accomplishments made by the councils of the last two terms, saying that he “proudly ran for two consecutive terms on a platform of public safety and, as a result, Langley is a safer place.
“The commitment to full-time firefighters has been expensive but is a positive legacy in the growing community,” he said, adding that commitments to improved policing, the community safety officer program is also critical.
The Langley Events Centre has been great for the community, the water and sewer infrastructure in to Aldergrove, improved parks and green space position the community for the future.
There is still a job ahead, he said, pointing to taxes that are always an issue. He said he is committed to keeping taxes in the next three years at or below the rate of inflation.
“Now that we have staffed four fire halls, I believe this is attainable without leaving a legacy of debt and eroding infrastructure,” Fox said.
“Public safety needs to continue to be high on the agenda with a continued focus on policing and an emphasis on bylaw enforcement.”
He added that now that the new Aldergrove Core Plan is complete, he would like to see a community recreation facility in the downtown area. He feels Langley is ready to commence planning on an arts and culture/theatre facility, and said that continued emphasis on maintenance of existing infrastructure, roads and pipes as well as dealing with the issues associated with good farm practice in the rural areas, is critical.
Fox points out that he would have no difficulty working with any mayor chosen by the electorate, “but they must be prepared to be upfront and honest with council and the public.”
Running as an independent, Fox said that his commitment is to “realistic attainable goals and initiatives, sustainable tax decisions and a positive legacy for the next generation while not leaving this community saddled with taxable debt.”