Long-time Langley City resident Shelley Coburn says she will continue to serve as a trustee at the Langley Board of Education if she wins the council byelection.
“There is synergy between the two roles for the benefit of all of the taxpayers,” Coburn said.
“People may wonder why I may want to fulfill two positions, and this is a fair question.
"It is because it is my passion. My time on the board has helped me realize that I am prepared to dedicate myself full time to serving my community.”
In her press release announcing her candidacy, Coburn said many people on City council and the school board have full-time jobs and that she herself has no other career.
“I can totally dedicate myself to these two positions.”
She does not believe she is in a potential conflict.
"No, absolutely not. There are safeguards in place to deal with any potential situations should they ever arise."
She said her vision is for a "vibrant Langley City, a healthy community where everyone feels safe, included, and supported. A place where development, business, and the arts are flourishing and the local economy is thriving."
She promised to work hard to make sure seniors are heard and cared for, the downtown core is revitalized, relationships with the business community and partner groups are strong, and that the city continues with improvements to infrastructure and transportation.
“I want a City where we can buy local, eat local, shop local, play local and live local."
She believes that when it comes to anything — homelessness, seniors, transit, development, infrastructure — "we are all the same taxpayer and the issues do not belong to just one level of government."
"They are our issues because we deal with them and we are the ones paying," Coburn said.
"What are we going to do to make it better? Do we lobby? Do we consult? How do we act because we have got to do something.”
Coburn was born in Langley and has spent most of her life here.
"My family roots run deep. This is where I choose to raise my two teenaged sons. I am deeply invested in this City.”
She wants her kids to be able to stay in Langley if they choose to, and in order for them to do this “they need options, they need jobs.”
“I know many people have contributed to bringing us from the place where we started in 1955 to the place we are today and now I want to contribute to the future, to the next generation. I want to play my part in making Langley City the place to be.”