Why I ran for election...

I ran in this election because I didn’t feel that anyone else was really stepping up to the plate - Kim Richter, Petrina Arnason and David Davis excluded. I’m running because I really care about the Township of Langley.

My name is Michelle Connerty and this is who I am:

- I am a wife to a Realtor (Barry Connerty) and mother of three children (aged 10, 13 and 16) who go to public school in the Township (Noel Booth and Brookswood Secondary).

- I worked for our family business (log barging and tow boats) for 22 years and filled every position within the office (reception, AP, AR, payroll, purchasing dispatch, operations and management).

- I managed the welding and machine shop for this time, including lifting work boats out and minor and major refits.

- I managed a 200 foot yacht that was used for ecotourism and heliskiing along the coast of British Columbia and on the back of Whistler and Blackcomb for just over seven years. We also did two major refits while I was managing it.

- We moved to the Township of Langley in May of 2011.

- I owned my own company (Absolutely Beautiful Chemicals) distributing eco-friendly industrial degreasers and acid replacement technology in the Lower Mainland.

- I sold cars and trucks for Preston GM in Langley for a couple of years and loved doing it because I wasn’t the “typical” car sales person.

- I volunteered for leadership roles at our Co-Op Preschool in New Westminster, organized many fundraising efforts to support the homeless in that community and worked hard on revising/renovating the Constitution to ensure that the organization is progressive and relevant.

- I volunteered on our kid’s school PACs and run fundraisers and the Hot Lunch program for many years.

- I have spoken at Council many times in the last four years and attended or watched almost all the Council meetings (afternoon and evening).

- I held a rally in Brookswood to try to ensure that we have a great plan in place (a revised Official Community Plan – OCP), that we don’t just give away an amazing opportunity to “build out” our Community to Developers and Land Owners who are not invested in our Community, other than monetarily.

- I held a delegation to Council this last Spring to plea (unsuccessfully) for a Township-wide interim Tree-Bylaw that would allow property owners to maintain their trees but not clear cut ahead of development.

- I work hard to ensure I’m connected within our Community via Facebook to let residents know what is going on within the Township regarding Council issues (publishing Agendas, bringing up potential issues, etc.)

- I have attended Rallies for the 216th Overpass issue and the truck route through Walnut Grove past two schools.

- I have spoken on behalf of Willoughby more times that I care to remember at Public Hearings, telling Council that they cannot possibly entertain building one more development without addressing the mess they have created: roads, school, hospitals, sidewalks, proper lighting, green spaces, etc. In many of the instances I was the only one standing up and speaking out against the development – Willoughby seems to have given up? ☹ I HAVE NOT!!

Monday, if I’m not elected to a seat on Council I will continue. I will continue to hold the Mayor and Council’s feet to the fire. I will continue being a voice for proper infrastructure planning and funding (at the very least) prior to development. I will continue being passionate about our environment, the trees, the streams, the rivers, the animals, the green spaces – all of which, we have no second chance on. I will also embark on trying to figure our homeless issue and how I can have some positive impact on this very human issue.

Please look at the track record behind each and every candidate that is running and see where their heart lies, what they have been doing for the last four years, where they have invested their spare time and energy. Take a very close look please!

I am not running in this election for a “position”. I am running so that I can have a job that allows me to make a difference - to serve. An opportunity to listen to the Residents of the Township and represent them at Council. My goal is to ensure we are doing the best job we can with the growth that Langley is so obviously going through and will continue to go through for the next four years and beyond.

My heart and soul are invested in the Township of Langley. Please vote in this election, it’s so important that your voice is heard!

Thank you.

~ Michelle Connerty

#buildabetterlangley