ItB次元官网网址檚 admittedly a classic David and Goliath battle.

A one-time Spencer interchange tree sitter and social activist who lives in Port Renfrew is challenging LangfordB次元官网网址檚 six-term mayor, a lifetime resident of the city he has transformed.

Their respective platforms, not surprisingly, take different tacks B次元官网网址� incumbent Stew Young is focused on keeping taxes low and growth steady. Challenger Chris Johnson wants to see more public consultation and a stronger environmental focus.

Chris Johnson

Johnson, 38, wants to bring a deeper sense of public engagement to Langford council, while taking a closer look at the rate of development in the rapidly transforming city.

Many people are happy with how Langford has changed and grown over the past 20 years, he said, but certainly many arenB次元官网网址檛, and they feel shut out or alienated by council. For him, political decision making isnB次元官网网址檛 so much about the outcome as the process.

B次元官网网址淧eople IB次元官网网址檝e met in Langford or hitchhiking to Port Renfrew, some are happy for sure, but some feel theyB次元官网网址檙e not being consulted or informed about the rate of development,B次元官网网址� Johnson said. B次元官网网址淚 want to give voice to that in particular.B次元官网网址�

The public process can often be confusing or seen as overly bureaucratic, he said, which pushes people away from engaging in the civic life of the community. B次元官网网址淚 want the process to be more accessible, more interesting and more relevant to them,B次元官网网址� said Johnson, who works on food security projects in his spare time. B次元官网网址淭his has been the No. 1 issue of people I talk to.B次元官网网址�

Johnson admits the odds of defeated the entrenched incumbent seem remote, even more so operating on a zero dollar campaign budget. Unlike the 2008 civic election where Young was acclaimed, voters need a choice, Johnson said, even if just to take a measure of community opposition.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not just about Stew Young. People deserve a choice either way,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 would definitely take the job, itB次元官网网址檚 what I want to do. You canB次元官网网址檛 just run when youB次元官网网址檙e guaranteed to win.B次元官网网址�

Stew Young

For Young, the economic formula is simple: encourage business and developer investments to keep property taxes low and infrastructure improvements coming.

The combative, 51-year-old six-term mayor said LangfordB次元官网网址檚 council and staff worked relentlessly to keep the local economy rolling, amid the doldrums of the recession.

B次元官网网址淭hree years ago the economy was in dire straits. Fortunately Langford had projects in the pipeline. It helped keep people busy and employed,B次元官网网址� Young pointed out, referring to new sports fields and the Sportsplex at City Centre Park. B次元官网网址淟angford came out of the recession healthy and vibrant. On recreation facilities we spent $30 million in three years with no increase to taxpayers.B次元官网网址�

Young expects this term, if heB次元官网网址檚 re-elected, heB次元官网网址檒l refocus on finishing the Spencer interchange, a $25 million project funded by Skirt Mountain landowners.

Highway interchanges, Young said, may be expensive, but they promote hubs of economic activity, such as the big box stores and commercial area near the Millstream overpass.

Getting the Spencer interchange open is one part of the solution to traffic congestion, he said. The other is refurbishing the E&N rail line to help transport people through the city, and freight over the Malahat B次元官网网址� he calls the regionB次元官网网址檚 light rapid transit project too expensive and too soon.

B次元官网网址淭he E&N was important 100 years ago and itB次元官网网址檚 important now,B次元官网网址� Young said. B次元官网网址淭he E&N is a job creator, LRT is not. The train is at the heart of our economic infrastructure.B次元官网网址�