Candidates announce intentions for Langley positions

Published 1:30 am Friday, May 12, 2023

Just ahead of filing week, two candidates have decided to throw their hats into the ring for mayor of the Village by the Sea and one for a seat on the Langley City Council.

Mayor Scott Chaplin, who was appointed to the position in 2021, does not plan to seek election. Thomas Gill and Krista “Kennedy” Horstman both plan to run.

Gill, who is currently serving his sophomore term on the city council, has run for mayor once before in 2015. He also sought appointment in 2021 when former Mayor Tim Callison resigned, but was unsuccessful against Chaplin.

An employee of Whidbey Telecom, Gill is focused on bringing the city into the 21st century with much-needed updates in technology.

“It’s a combination of the technology limitations and staff as to why we have had so many issues with the Open Public Meetings Act and providing documentation and public records when requested,” he said. “Too many things to look at and too few people to do it.”

Horstman is a member of Langley’s citizen-led Dismantling Systemic Racism Advisory Group. This is her first run for public office. Recently in her career, she has led teams who develop and host websites for municipalities, utilities and public libraries.

“With over 20 years of leadership and management experience, I look forward to working collaboratively with the city council and staff to provide our community with transparency, accountability, and a spirit of service,” she wrote in an email to The Record. “I bring a personal commitment to: the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion; lessening the effects of climate change; and providing affordable housing for our wage earners.”

Chris Carlson, who is a technology program manager for the University of Washington, is running for Gill’s seat on the city council. He is currently the chairperson of Langley’s citizen-led Finance and Personnel Legislative Commission and has served on various other boards as well.

One of his goals is to ensure that the council works efficiently, which means not getting bogged down or distracted by other things that are not priorities.

“Once we show that we can be disciplined and organized in our basic day-to-day functions, then I think the community is going to trust us to do bigger things, like affordable housing,” he said.

Candidate filing week is May 15-19.