A familiar Langley face wants to bring a new voice to Langley City politics.
Mel Kositsky, who began working as a local journalist in Langley City during the late Seventies, will be seeking the Mayor’s chair in the upcoming by-election, expected to be held in September to fill the vacancy created by Mayor Peter Fassbender’s success in Surrey as an MLA. Mayor Fassbender is expected to resign his position sometime in July.
A longtime Langley resident, Kositsky has served the community for decades as a member of the media, volunteer and was elected as a Township Councillor for 18 years.
“I have watched Langley City develop into a complete, compact community under the guidance of Mayor Marlene Grinnell and City Council, and then become ‘the place to be’ under Mayor Fassbender’s leadership,” said Kositsky.
“I have always felt I have served both the City and Township throughout my political career. There are many shared services, programs and festivities involving residents of both communities, and I was always keenly aware and inclusive of City politics,” he said. Kositsky is on the record as being against amalgamation of the two Langleys.
“I have always been putting Langley first. I believe I have the knowledge, experience and energy to lead Langley City into the future,” said Kositsky, 62. “I am well aware of the issues facing City residents due to my past work with the Township, Metro Vancouver board of directors and the many committees and task forces that I have been part of.”
“I am also an active volunteer with many organizations, some based in the City,” he added. “My strengths are dealing with people issues – such as the homeless, drug addiction, diversity training, immigration settlement and the aging population. As a former chair or vice chair of national infrastructure and transportation committees, I will be able to seek solutions to the issues of growth and re-development facing Langley City.”
Kositsky said this is an exciting period for the next Mayor of Langley City. There are a number of strategic plans in place for downtown revitalization and redevelopment of old neighbourhoods. The City is updating its Recreation, Parks and Culture Master Plan and its Official Community Plan to meet the Regional Growth Strategy. He is in favour of the joint Cultural Task Force study regarding a performing arts centre. Having the two local governments and the universities collaborate on the idea is the right next step, he said.
Kositsky believes he has strengths in those areas, having served on the Board of Directors of the BC Recreation and Parks Association. He is currently on the Board of Directors of the Pacific Parklands Foundation and the BC Housing Management Commission. He currently does freelance writing and operates a consulting company.
“I have always treated Langley as one community while respecting its political and geographic boundaries,” he said. “I have worked cooperatively with all Langley politicians at the municipal, provincial and federal levels, as well as with School District officials. My style of leadership is to bring people together and get things done!”
Over the years, Kositsky not only covered Langley City Council as a reporter and editor, he also worked closely with many City Councils on collaborative initiatives and joint programs and services. As a member of the former South Fraser Joint Family Court and Youth Justice Committee, he advocated for the reopening of a Langley Court House and that will be at the top of the list of issues he would like to tackle.
“I also see the need for an action plan to help fill the vacant storefronts in the downtown core and continue to develop a pedestrian-friendly community. I also see a need to accommodate the growing number of electric wheelchairs and scooters moving around the core, so they can get around safely. We may even need to establish scooter re-charging stations like they are doing for electric cars.”
During his career in the local media, Kositsky worked or volunteered for companies that had offices based in Langley City. He started with the Fraser Valley News Herald in the late Seventies, moved onto the Langley Times in the Eighties and became editor in 1986. He also worked as the Langley representative for Vancouver and Fraser Valley radio stations, and wrote columns for the Langley Advance and Country Wave Magazine. Kositsky was also a television host and producer of community television shows from Rogers and Shaw studios in Langley City. He created the Langley People show and worked on other productions such as the Langley newsmagazine show called “56th Avenue” and “Along for the Ride”, which focused on the Langley horse industry.
In 2004, he ran unsuccessfully as an Independent candidate in the federal election for the newly-created Langley only riding. He was the only candidate to have his election office in Langley City. “Much of my support came from Langley City residents so they have voted for me in the past,” he said. Kositsky also ran unsuccessful for Mayor of Langley Township in 2011, finishing second to current Mayor Jack Froese.