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City ‘not broken'

First-time candidate runs for City council
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Catfish Potesta

Catfish Potesta is making his first run at elected office, and is seeking a position as councillor in the City of Langley.

Potesta was born and raised in East Vancouver, and moved to Langley’s Brookswood area in 1988 to start a family. He became involved in the Neighbourhood Block Watch and Block Parent program. He has been a City resident since 2003.

He has been president of his strata council at his complex, and has become familiar with City and strata bylaws. As president, he was responsible for implementing rules, a maintenance plan, fees and a long-term financial budget to accommodate and answer to all of the landowners.

He has been employed in many aspects of the automotive industry for the past 30 years, and is currently director of business development with Mopac Auto Supply in Langley, where he has worked since 1984.

“I’m proud of my involvement with the Friday Night Street Legal Drag Race Series at Mission Raceway, as well the B.C. High School Motorsport Program. Both serve to promote safe racing on the track, not the streets,” he said.

He has been involved in organizing and assisting in numerous fundraisers in Langley benefiting Variety Children’s Charity, Children’s Hospital and Valley Therapeutic Equestrian Association.

“Giving back to the community is important to me, and I enjoy volunteering for activities such as  Langley Chiefs/Rivermen Junior A Hockey Club; Olympic Torch Relay 2010; Olympic Hockey Games; Vancouver Giants Hockey Club, Cruise-In activities and the upcoming World Junior Hockey Challenge,” he said.

He has served two years on the City of Langley’s Police Advisory Committee, and is currently on the City of Langley Public Safety Advisory Committee. He believes all citizens deserve to live in a safe environment.

“I will continue to support and provide our law enforcement agencies with the proper manpower, crime reduction initiatives and tools to implement their strategies,” he said.

Potesta would like to give priority to developers who are willing to build affordable housing in the City, and offer them reduced pro-rated development fees. He believes there needs to be more opportunity for first-time buyers, families with lower incomes and seniors to own their own homes.

He would also like to help develop a plan to assist local businesses with incentives to be price competitive and retain local shoppers. He cites the highly-successful Cruise-In in September as the perfect example on how to showcase Langley, the Place to Be.

“Langley City is not broken, nor does it need major repairs. We are all in this together, having to maintain and upgrade our infrastructure as needed, and provide proper funding to build and operate it,” he said.



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