To the editor:

City of Langley residents have an important opportunity to directly impact our community’s future come Election Day, Aug. 16. Proposition 1, an initiative to switch Langley’s current form of government, will be on the ballot.

I say, “Don’t switch.” Rather, affirm Langley’s current form of government — the familiar and effective council-mayor form of government — that, in my opinion, allows voting residents the strongest, most reliable and effective link between us and them, between voters and our elected representatives.

I ask fellow village voters to reject Proposition 1 by voting no because the proposed council-manager form of government would surely weaken the link between ourselves and leadership, and that’s not what we want.

Since its 1913 incorporation, Langley residents have supported the current council-mayor form of government, and while history shows ups and downs in terms of the effectiveness of various individuals who have been elected, on the whole this strong foundational form of government seems to have served us well. I see no need to switch. Please vote no on Proposition 1 and keep our current form of local government.

SHAREN HEATH

Langley