Harold Whittell
Running for council in Langley Township
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Business owner, 56
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• Have you held office in past? If so, please specify: No
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Candidate provided bio:
Langley is in my heart and blood. I’ve lived all my life in Langley and have run a successful business for 25 years. It’s time to give back. It’s time to preserve and build the Township for existing and future generations.
If you are looking to vote for a truly independent candidate who will take on the tough battles I will be that voice. I have been actively involved as a resident, on the other side of council for nearly two terms – I have made it my duty to be informed on issues that affect our neighbourhoods and our Township as a whole – it’s now time to step up my efforts as a member of council. I offer to you my commitment to have an open door to discuss your concerns any time, to be well educated on the issues and be effective in representing you.
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Website: haroldwhittell.com
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Facebook: @HaroldWhittellForLangleyTownshipCouncil
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Other internet/social media platforms where voters can learn about you: Instagram @haroldwhittell; LinkedIn @harold-whittell-westvale
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• Who is your favourite superhero, and why? Superman, classic, timeless and mild mannered in daily life.
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There are 23 candidates running for eight Langley Township council seats. The following are questions asked of each candidate hopeful. They were directed to provide a minimum of a Yes, No, or Don’t Know answer, and given an option to expand on one answer in print (to a maximum of 100 words per question). They could expand on all questions online, if they wished to do so. The following are their replies.
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Questions and Answers:
1. What neighbourhood of Langley do you live in?
Answer: Fort Langley, but I have lived in Walnut Grove, Aldergrove, Otter, and South Langley in the past.
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2. How many years have you lived in Langley?
Answer: 54 years
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3. How many Langley Township council meetings have you attended in the past year?
Answer: All of the evening meetings and several afternoon sessions. I have regularly attended these meetings for over 6 years.
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4: Should the municipality be directly funding social housing to reduce homelessness?
Answer: Yes. In cooperation with other levels of government, charities and businesses. I would also like to see the TOL investigate other options for helping the homeless at a local level. There are “portable mobile shower and laundry trailers” being used in other cities. They allow people to have a warm shower, wash laundry, this alone allows some opportunity to seek employment and feel a sense of dignity and worth. This would be one idea that is well within the realm of local government.
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5. Do you support elevated rail over light rapid transit from Surrey to Langley?
Answer: No.
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6. Should the municipality fund an arts centre?
Answer:
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7. Would you vote to raise taxes to hire more police?
Answer: Yes.
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8. Does Langley need a new or second hospital to serve the growing population?
Answer: Yes.
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9. Does Willoughby need its own dedicated library?
Answer: Yes.
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10. Is there enough effort being made to preserve farmland?
Answer: No.
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11. Should Langley allow construction of residential towers?
Answer: No.
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12. Should Langley have its own municipal police force, replacing the RCMP?
Answer: No.
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13. Do you think residential property taxes are too high?
Answer: No.
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14. Do you support the expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline?
Answer: No. Based on what is on the table now and the method being used by the federal government to push it through. Much more consultation is required. I would like to see the comparables if the pipeline is not built what the increase will look like to rail traffic or truck traffic.
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15. Should the municipality offer tax breaks, incentives, or rebates to companies looking to set up shop here?
Answer: Yes.
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16. Is Langley being pushed to grow too fast?
Answer: Yes.
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17. Do you support redevelopment of Fort Langley’s downtown?
Answer: Yes I support the redevelopment of Fort Langley within the existing OCP and design guidelines, respecting the height bylaw and all other aspects of building in a Heritage Conservation Area.
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18. Should development of Brookswood be phased in?
Answer: Yes.
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19. Should the Township set a deadline to finish widening 208th Street in Willoughby?
Answer: Yes.
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20. Should there be a limit to the number of consecutive terms a member of council can serve?
Answer: No.