Scott Goodmanson has several strikes against him as he mounts a humble campaign to topple seven-term Langford Mayor Stew Young.
The 49-year-old husband and father has no political experience, little name recognition, doesn’t live in Langford — although he grew up there — and has a landscaping and pond-excavating business based in Saanich.
While it’s a long shot, Goodmanson is Young’s only challenger for the mayor’s seat after fellow mayoral candidate Dan Oickle dropped out of the race Thursday for personal reasons.
Goodmanson said Young has the “juggernaut of the development community” behind him, while Goodmanson has four or five volunteers and still needs donations for signs and other election expenses.
Nonetheless, he said he has Langford in his bones, attending Ruth King, Spencer and Belmont schools: “I was raised on a property overlooking Langford Lake that has been in my family for 90 years.”
His goal is to give Langford residents more of a voice in what’s going on. “I’ve heard residents’ stories of calling city hall for help and never getting an answer, of speaking up in public hearings and being ignored or shouted down. Someone needs to step up to offer a different choice and vision.”
Over the three-decade reign of Young, with his straightforward, often brash style at the head of the council table, Langford has evolved from “Dog Patch” to the province’s fastest-growing city.
There has been rapid development of housing, businesses, recreational venues and — most recently — a post-secondary campus for the West Shore. Since Young’s arrival in local government when Langford was first incorporated in 1992, nearly every corner and neighbourhood has been transformed.
He’s leading the Community First Langford slate in the Oct. 15 election that includes long-time councillors Lanny Seaton, Matt Sahlstrom and Roger Wade, along with incumbent Norma Stewart, running for a second term, and two new faces, Shirley Ackland and Shannon Russell Willing.
Incumbents Denise Blackwell, who has been at the council table as long as Young, and Lillian Szpak, who frequently clashes with Young over everything from the environment to the way he conducts himself at meetings, are running again. Wendy Hobbs, who ran unsuccessfully in 2018, is also on the ballot.
A slate called Langford Now, which includes Cobly Harder, Keith Yacucha, Kimberley Guiry, Mark Morley and Mary Wagner, is calling for a “sweeping change” in everything from transportation and recreation to affordability, sustainable development, environmental protections and transparent government.
Those interests align with Goodmanson’s platform, and while Langford Now is not running a mayoral candidate, the group says it’s happy to see a “solid candidate” like Goodmanson step up to run for the mayor’s seat, Corrina Craig, principal official with Langford Now, said in a statement.
Craig said the candidates are hearing on doorsteps that residents are ready for change and “a better choice for mayor.”
“While the timing didn’t line up for Langford Now to make a decision on endorsing Scott, we see a lot of alignment with our values and priorities and we hope he is successful in unseating the current mayor.”
For his part, Goodmanson said he wants to create a culture where “residents’ voices are heard, understood and respected — not dismissed or run over. To really understand what the public wants, we have to listen to people.”
Goodmanson said he wants responsible development — “building community not just housing” — and growth that protects Langford’s natural environment. He also wants to help address housing affordability, making sure Langford is building housing to meet its changing demographics. He said Young’s rapid approach to development has remained unchanged for decades, but isn’t creating affordable housing.
He said affordability is the main reason he’s not living in Langford.
“My wife and I are currently renting in Saanich because we couldn’t find suitable housing for our own family in my hometown,” Goodmanson said. “I am hearing from people all over the community who are grappling with the housing crisis.”
Young said his focus will continue to be creating jobs in Langford, building affordable and attainable housing, community services and recreation facilities, and to “build on the work that has kept taxes low and investment high.”
Young captured 82% of the vote in the 2018 election, easily beating challenger Robert Fraser. All the incumbents who ran were re-elected, higher than the B.C. average of 81%.
But only 18.5% of eligible voters filled out ballots in Langford, which is well below the provincial municipal average of 36%.
Goodmanson said the low voter turnout is concerning. He said it’s not because Langford residents are happy with the status quo; it’s because they feel like council doesn’t listen to them.
