Editor,

I am a 34-year resident of Langley. Leadership-wise, I have seen a lot of good, some bad, sometimes even some ugly, in our government operation. I’m not easy to please, but I’m here to say I entirely support Kennedy Horstman for mayor and recommend you do so too. She has been an acquaintance over the years, and I have worked with her on a civic project in the past. She’s a straight shooter, sizes up the goal, eliminates diversions, sticks to the game plan and proceeds to produce it. Frankly, that is what I have seen a crying need for in all our recent mayorships. (Kennedy’s opponent Gill claims experience, but that has mostly been learned in the milieu of the scattered or unfocused leadership of those mayorships.)

Kennedy has gained familiarity with Langley’s government style over the years through thoughtful interactions with a number of its staff. Also, in 2020 she jumped in to successfully chair Langley’s Dismantling Systemic Racism Commission. I have talked to residents and city authorities who rave about her careful and clear meeting leadership, the thoughtful proposals she sparked and guided and how she skillfully threaded her way through diverse issues and conflicting interests. Her plan execution skills were honed from 25+ years of management experience and extensive organizational tech use. For proof ask the folks at Perkins Coie, the Wall Street Journal, United Airlines and Boeing, which have all benefited from her tech-spertise and organizational savvy, merged with asset management and information security know-how.

And, I want to add that Chris Carlson, running for Council position #3, has an equally stellar resume and would be a productive complement to Kennedy’s organizational skills. He has 11 years as a business analyst, project manager and program manager at UW. He has also distinguished himself in his service as chair of both the Langley Finance and Personnel Legislative Commission and the Langley Civil Service Commission, as well as being a productive member of he Langley Ethics Advisory Board. Both he and Kennedy hold government efficiency as a high value. Both want to bring their strong skills to alleviating the affordable housing crisis and creating more government responsiveness.

Elect Kennedy who has her eyes on rooting out Langley’s inefficiencies in service delivery and its spotty operational capabilities (caused by what Kennedy calls “benign but increasingly dangerous neglect”). Allow Chris Carlson to bring to city council a strong team support for this agenda. Watch both streamline formerly choppy operations, acting not like automatons or army brass but as thoughtful leaders who love this city, their home.

Mark Wahl

Langley