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- Langford’s new mayor humbled, excited to bring the change voters have asked for
Langford’s new mayor humbled, excited to bring the change voters have asked for
Scott Goodmanson beat out 30-year stalwart Stew Young to be Langford’s new mayor, and neither of them saw it coming.
“I told my [volunteers], I said, ‘Of course I want to win. I don't want to get waxed.’ Everyone told me when I started, I'm gonna get waxed. So I would love it if I'm in the high 30s or 40s. Then I could say we had a good push,” Goodmanson reflected.
He landed in the mid 50s with 53% of the vote, 687 votes ahead of Young.
“I'm excited. Not just excited because I won, but we can make some positive changes in the city.” Voters didn’t just respond to the change Goodmanson offered, but to the entire Langford Now slate. The only incumbent councillor who was re-elected is Lillian Szpak, who increasingly clashed with Young this year over issues the new candidates tend to agree on—like more clear tree protections, and more consultation with neighbours of proposed developments.
Goodmanson is interpreting that full council changeover as a clear message from voters. “That's what I was saying all along. The residents make the choice, they make the decisions. We just give leadership to the staff about how to make those decisions happen. And yeah, the residents spoke,” he said.
His first goal has already been accomplished—increase voter turnout. Langford increased to 24% this year up from just 18% at the last municipal election. His second goal is to create a culture within chambers that invites residents to say their piece.
“I want to see people coming into City Hall just to participate, just to be part of it. And not be afraid of being yelled at or shut down.”
Within the office of City Hall, the mayor-elect has a lot of staff members to meet. He plans to approach them the same way he approached voters: “Talk to them, listen to them. What else can you do, until you listen to them and talk to them?”