VOTE THIS SATURDAY

 

Municipal elections are upon us, this Saturday Nov. 19.Ai??You can vote from 8:00AM to 8:00PM.
We must have strong local representation to get passenger rail moved forward.Ai??Local elections are often all about voter turnout, which, some elections, is only 20-25%. The good news on that is, your own vote makes more of an impact. So VOTE. And tell everyone you know to do to do the same.
You can check your local government website for voting locations.
How I see it:
CHILLIWACKAi??- The 4 incumbent councillors have not expressed enough interest in passenger rail to move us forward in Chilliwack the last 3 years. Chilliwack is the only South of Fraser municipality without representation on the Community Rail Task Force. This has to change. The best newcomer we can elect to move us forward:Ai??Dick Harrington. Mitchell NoskoAi??is also a solid choice for Rail.
ABBOTSFORDAi??-Ai??Henry BraunAi??is an excellent candidate, a former freight rail executive who knows all the ins and outs of the railway business, and who is strongly supportive of an Interurban service and Rail for the Valley.Ai??Other council candidates who have spoken positively about passenger rail:Ai??Patricia Ross (Incumbent), Bill MacGregor (Incumbent), Aird Flavelle, Doris Woodman-McMillan.Ai??As for mayor, George Peary has so far been quite disappointing in not understanding the urgency of the issue, and has used discredited arguments against the Interurban corridor. The youngAi??Travis DalemanAi??from UFV has spoken strongly about rapid rail, although at 18 years oldAi??some might sayAi??he is a little young for the mayor’s chair. Other choices areAi??Bruce BanmanAi??andAi??Gerda Peachey.
LANGLEY TOWNSHIP -Ai??MayorAi??Rick GreenAi??has been immensely valuable for the cause of passenger rail the past 3 years, receivingAi??Top Honours. Here’s why:Ai??http://www.railforthevalley.com/latest-news/john-buker/rail-for-the-valley-gives-top-honours-to-rick-green/. And when all candidates were recently asked,Ai??“What one accomplishment would you like to achieve in your three-year term?”Ai??Rick GreenAi??was the one candidate to bring up transportation.Ai??Green said he’d like to see transit problems dealt with, including light rail in the Fraser Valley and co-operation between the Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley Regional Districts.Ai??http://www.langleytimes.com/news/election/133941093.htmlAi??Mayor Green is this time running with a group of councillors who see eye to eye on this issue -Ai??Vote Langley Now.

 

-For a non-incumbent who is not part of a group,Ai??Sonya PatersonAi??has shownAi??tremendous dedicationAi??to the issue of passenger rail in the past years. I can say with certainty she would be a strong independent voice on council.
LANGLEY CITYAi??-Ai??Dave HallAi??andAi??Rudy StorteboomAi??are both very outspoken supporters of Light Rail, for Langley and the Fraser Valley.

SURREY -Ai??BothAi??Surrey FirstAi??andAi??Surrey Civic CoalitionAi??have made Light RailAi??a priority issue, with Mayor Watts progressing toward starting up a heritageAi??service on theAi??Interurban.Ai??Surrey Civic Coalition advocates favour using theAi??Interurban corridor forAi??passenger rail,Ai??potentially all theAi??way to Chilliwack, in addition to other routes.Ai??Stephanie RyanAi??(SCC) is a consistently strong supporter of Rail for the ValleyAi??and a strong choice forAi??a new voice on council.

Please forward this along, to your friends and family,
and please vote. Let’s get some candidates elected!

 

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