Langford Mayor Stew Young is also a principle in a large business empire in the city and beyond, and that business involvement has from time to time, given rise to allegations of conflict of interest.
During the 2014 municipal campaign, for example, a slate of candidates calling themselves Neighbours of Langford ran under the slogan of B次元官网网址淭ime for ChangeB次元官网网址� and accused Young of being in a conflict of interest situation. At the time, their specific target was their contention that YoungB次元官网网址檚 Alpine Group, was the only garden-waste facility in the city. They said that a public works yard should be established instead.
At the time, Young pointed out there was nothing stopping a competitor from offering the service at a better rate and added that establishing a civic service at taxpayerB次元官网网址檚 expense would be inefficient and unfair to taxpayers who were not going to use the service.
The Neighbours of LangfordB次元官网网址檚 entire slate of candidates was defeated during that election.
READ MORE: LangfordB次元官网网址檚 journey from B次元官网网址楧ogpatchB次元官网网址� to growing city
B次元官网网址淔rom time to time I get that kind of comment, and I suppose itB次元官网网址檚 one of the reasons that itB次元官网网址檚 hard for a business person to get into politics,B次元官网网址� Young said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been involved in business for 35 years and started my business long before I ran for office with the belief that what I had learned from business would help me to do a better job for the people of Langford.B次元官网网址� Young added heB次元官网网址檚 proud of his business success but now he doesnB次元官网网址檛 even maintain an office with the Alpine Group, having turned over operations to a group of B次元官网网址渞eally great people who live and work in Langford.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淟ook, small businesses pay three times the taxes that residential properties pay and when theyB次元官网网址檙e successful, they give even more to the community by providing employment, investing in the community and giving to charities. This Christmas [Alpine] gave $20,000 to charity and itB次元官网网址檚 something we do every year.B次元官网网址�
Young noted it would help governments if more business people were willing to give up their time to help their communities by entering politics. B次元官网网址淭here will always be critics, but I know that IB次元官网网址檝e worked my butt off for Langford because I view the community as my family. Yes, IB次元官网网址檝e run a business here as well, but the community has always come first. I think most small business people would do the same.B次元官网网址�
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