The organizer of a by-invitation meet-and-greet for selected 91原创 Township council candidates has rejected complaints from critics who said it amounted to a slate.
鈥淭here were several conspiracy theories put forward by a few people, which obviously had no basis in fact,鈥� said Steve Schafer of the Canadian Foundation for Better Government (CF4BG), the group that organized two meetings with incumbents mayor Jack Froese, councillors Blair Whitmarsh and Angie Quaale, former Councillor Bev Dornan, and new candidates Margaret Kunst and Michael Pratt.
鈥淎s I pointed out at both events, there is no slate,鈥� Schafer told the Times.
鈥淔irstly, that would imply that I 鈥� or the Foundation 鈥� is running a campaign, which we鈥檙e not. Secondly, there wouldn鈥檛 even be a full complement if this was someone鈥檚 slate.
鈥淭hirdly, the CF4BG does not endorse every policy of these candidates鈥� platforms nor do we expect that the individual candidates would endorse every aspect of the others鈥� platforms.鈥�
Schafer said the candidates were selected for 鈥渢heir commitment to fiscal responsibility and doing the job of councillor, irrespective of their feelings towards any of their other duly elected colleagues.鈥�
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Some of the candidates who were not invited took to social media to register their objections after the Times reported on the event.
鈥淚 am a candidate and it would have been nice to be included, but frankly what I take real exception to are the 鈥榗riteria鈥�,鈥� said Gail Chaddock-Costello.
Chaddock-Costello said she has a track record of fiscal responsibility as president of the 91原创 Teachers鈥� Association and member of the BC Teachers鈥� Federation executive.
鈥淥ur budgets were balanced, we invested surpluses each year and only used 鈥榚xtra鈥� funds in bargaining years when expenses were greater than anticipated,鈥� Chaddock-Costello said, adding 鈥渆thical, transparent advocacy and leadership is what I stand for, so I will simply assume those doing the invitations did not research my background very deeply or at all.鈥�
鈥淚 have never heard of this group before,鈥� said incumbent councillor Michelle Sparrow, 鈥渂ut I do find it interesting the 鈥榗riteria鈥� they say they have used to pick their 鈥榝avourites鈥�.
鈥淚鈥檓 proud of the work that I have done over the past seven years and of my own personal integrity,鈥� Sparrow added, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 need a foundation to assure me of that.鈥�
鈥淚f I don鈥檛 meet the 鈥榗riteria鈥� this group has set out to just be given the opportunity to share my thoughts about why I am running and what I stand for and to be given the chance to hear from those residents in attendance at this event, then it would seem I find myself at this time in the majority鈥� Sparrow said.
鈥淚鈥檓 not hurt that I wasn鈥檛 invited to speak,鈥� said mayoralty candidate Alex Joehl, 鈥渨hat bothers me is the lack of transparency.鈥�
He said the meetings amounted to the 鈥渓aunching of their voting slate.鈥�
鈥淐all it a silent-slate, call it a party, but what I do know is that 91原创 voters traditionally don鈥檛 like to see power amalgamated,鈥� Joehl added.
Mayor Froese told the Times he received an invitation about a week before the event and decided to accept because he is open to speak at any candidates event organized by a legitimate group.
鈥淚f I can go, I go,鈥� Froese said.
Schafer said the turnout for the two meetings 鈥渨as a little softer than we would have liked,鈥� but that may be the result of the short notice and 鈥渁n issue with advertising on social media that we鈥檒l be taking up with Facebook鈥� where ads were targeted to the wrong communities.
The Canadian Foundation for Better Government was incorporated as a non-profit corporation in 2016 with three directors, Schafer, who is a 91原创 resident, Bert Chen, also of 91原创, and Sacha Peter of Vancouver.
Schafer said there are five other people on a board of advisors.
In 2017, Schafer, who was president of the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) Cloverdale 鈥� 91原创 City Electoral District Association, helped to organize the only Conservative leadership debate in the Fraser Valley, held at the Darvonda greenhouse in 91原创.
He said the foundation was not involved in that event.
Upcoming candidates forums:
Sept. 27, 7 p.m. at 91原创 Events Centre at 7888 200 St.
Hosted by the union representing Township of 91原创 Firefighters, International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 4550, to hear candidates views on public safety.
Oct. 2, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Cascades Casino Resort Ballroom at 20393 Fraser Hwy.
Hosted by the Greater 91原创 Chamber of Commerce to meet the City of 91原创 mayoral candidates.
Free for all guests to attend but an event registration is required by calling the Chamber office at 604-371-3370 or by visiting the Chamber website at .
Oct. 4, 6:30 p.m. at the Fort 91原创 Community Hall.
Hosted by Fort 91原创 community members, in partnership with the Fort 91原创 Community Improvement Society.
The meeting will include both school trustee candidates and Township of 91原创 Council and Mayoral candidates.
Trustee candidates will be heard from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., followed by the Township of 91原创 council and mayoral candidates from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. followed by an opportunity to meet and mingle with all candidates in attendance from 9:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Oct. 10, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the 91原创 Seniors Centre, 20605 - 51B Ave.
Hosted by the 91原创 Seniors Community Action Table for City of 91原创 candidates who will be asked about affordable housing, poverty reduction, safety and security, transportation, social inclusion/quality of life and health care .
Oct. 11, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Shepherd of the Valley Church at 20097 72 Ave.
Hosted by the Willoughby Residents Association, which says while the focus will be on Willoughby, you do not have to be a resident to attend and everyone is encouraged to join us.
Oct. 12, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the 91原创 Seniors Centre, 20605 - 51B Ave.
Hosted by the 91原创 Seniors Community Action Table for Township of 91原创 candidates who will be asked about affordable housing, poverty reduction, safety and security, transportation, social inclusion/quality of life and health care .
dan.ferguson@langleytimes.com
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