Is this why people in power in Chilliwack are so afraid of change?

On October 11th at the Chamber of Commerce Mayoral debate, Sharon Gaetz told those in attendance and watching online that trust has been broken on city council. “A serious issue has been referred to the RCMP”, by the Mayor and Council “as trustees of the public purse”. A complete forensic audit was initiated to get to the bottom of Mr. Waddington’s expenses and the “lies told to Councillor Stam in a public forum”.

Mayor Gaetz said “this is a serious issue, it is not about overspending, please do your homework”.

So the research began.

In the January 17, 2013 Chilliwack Progress, it was announced that $3.1 million taxpayer dollars would be used to bail out Bill Coombes from the “Candy Land” project he planned to build on leased City land. (Chilliwack Progress, Feb 22, 2005 “Work starts on ‘Candy Land’”, Chilliwack Progress Jan 17, 2013 “Changes coming for old Candy Land site in Chilliwack”)

This announcement was presented as a victory. “To be able to redeem the situation turned into a positive for Chilliwack,” said Gaetz. A victory for whom?

Why were the following details glossed over?

• CEPCO president at the time was John Jansen, the former Mayor of Chilliwack (Chilliwack Progress, Dec 22 2000, “A change in direction”)

• Bill Coombes, the businessman behind the Candy Land development, had occasionally used his role as radio host and director of Fraser Valley Broadcasting to present a positive image of then Mayor John Jansen (Chilliwack Progress, Nov 5, 1986, “Hotline”) and criticize his opponents (Chilliwack Progress, January 21, 1987, “Letter to the Editor by Tom Knowles”), having an immeasurable positive impact on his political career.

• On December 1 2013, John Jansen was replaced as CEPCO Executive Director by Brian Coombes, son of Bill Coombes (Press release from Cheryl Britton, CEPCO, Oct 24 2013 The Valley Voice, “CEPCO gets new boss”)

• Councillor Chuck Stam’s relation to John Jansen (his wife is the niece of John Jansen) (Chilliwack Progress, Nov 17 1993 “Wedding Showcase”)

Is it possible that these details weren’t disclosed because of a potential conflict of interest in making Bill Coombes’ bad investment deal go away? Is it possible that these details would only result in in further investigation of deals CEPCO has made on behalf of the taxpayers of Chilliwack?

So, does Sharon Gaetz really care about wasting the public purse? Consider the following:

• Sharon Gaetz obtained a court order demanding a recount of the 1990 election where she unsuccessfully ran for a second term as school trustee, costing the district an estimated $5,000. (Chilliwack Progress, Dec 12 1990, “Vote recount now official, Wiens winner”)

• $65,000 was paid to Walas Concepts, a Dutch consultant with expertise in downtown revitalization (Chilliwack Progress, Mar 10 2014, “New Walas concept for Downtown Chilliwack to see vacant spaces filled”)

• Former Mayor and CEPCO president John Jansen and Coun. Ken Huttema had connections to Walas Concepts and their photos appeared on the Walas Concepts website. (Chilliwack Times, March 6, 2014 “The silence of the council.”)

• City Council approved the Walas Concepts proposal without discussion, only to end the agreement prematurely. (Chilliwack Progress, Jan 28 2015, “Chilliwack ends its relationship with Walas Concepts”)

• $190,000 was paid to an out-of-town contractor on “Welcome to Chilliwack” signs (Chilliwack Times, Mar 6 2014, “Dollar signs”)

Mayor Gaetz is correct when she says that this is a serious issue. This is an issue of power and taking whatever steps necessary to maintain a hold on that power. If you do your homework, you might also find that Sharon Gaetz is the fourth generation of mayors that has been supported and enabled by a core group of individuals who have maintained a tight circle of influence and control over Chilliwack.

It all started back in 1983 with John Jansen running for Mayor and John Les for Alderman (Councillor) on a platform of “restraint”. They were elected during a time of financial instability and successfully argued that the 30% reduction in spending at city hall by Mayor Geoff Clark wasn’t enough. During the same election, a referendum to borrow $3.1 million to address roads needing repair was defeated, a referendum shrinking the size of council by two seats was approved and a re-alignment of election dates to elect the entire 7-member council every 2 years, rather than half of the council, was approved. (Chilliwack Progress, Nov 23 1983)

A submission to the “Readers’ Forum” in the Nov 16, 1983 Chilliwack Progress reads: “Consider the combined effect if the Chilliwack council is subjected to these “slate” allegiances while also being limited to one election every two years, and only six aldermen. In that situation a “slate” of four persons on council (including the mayor) would hold total power because it would hold a monopoly position on all decision-making. Instead of elected representatives each working without bias toward the best decision for the whole district, we could be exposed to polarization around the aims and objectives of one or more “special interest” groups. If we vote for one election every two years, we make it easier for “slates” to impose themselves because all the candidates are presented at one time. I urge everyone to consider these issues with care.”

With the support of local print and radio media, Jansen and Les and one other in their slate were elected by a mobilized base of fiscally conservative voters in Chilliwack. A new era had begun. (Chilliwack Progress, Nov 16 1983)

What started with Mayor John Jansen, Alderman John Les and an obedient council was continued with the addition of Casey Langbroek, a fiscally conservative accountant. Langbroek campaigned under a black cloud of questions regarding a preferential land deal on Airport road, while John Les’ credibility was in question because of the ‘in-camera’ (private) way council dealt with Langbroek’s land deal. (Feb 11, 1987, Chilliwack Progress)

Langbroek was ultimately elected in a string of 5 straight election wins for Les and Langbroek. From the original by-election in 1987, to the general elections later in 1987, 1990, 1993 and 1996, Casey Langbroek collected the greatest number of votes for council and John Les was either re-elected or acclaimed mayor.

Mayor John Les and Council created the Chilliwack Economic Partners Corporation in 1998. While CEPCO was incorporated as a private company, it is wholly owned by the City of Chilliwack and has the financial backing of the City as a guarantor and appoints all members to the volunteer Board of Directors. CEPCO has the right to sign non-disclosure agreements at their discretion to protect the details of their actions. “Gag orders” are routine in business negotiations, they said. (Chilliwack Progress, Apr 3 2001, “Stream lease deal under wraps”)

Casey Langbroek, chair of CEPCO, was replaced by John Jansen in 2000. Mayor Clint Hames says he is excited by John Jansen’s appointment, and about the “new ‘arms-length’ posture from the municipal council” direction. (Chilliwack Progress, Dec 22 2000, “A change in direction”)

This brings us back to the “Candy Land” deal. Council had no obligation to compensate Bill Coombes, but they did it anyway and went out their way to ensure the taxpayer wouldn’t connect the dots. Nobody raised any red flags at this deal at the time and nobody has wanted to talk about it since.

This does not mean that good things have not happened during the last 35 years in Chilliwack – nobody said that the interests of those in power are mutually exclusive from those of the taxpayers.

Trust is broken when power and influence appears to be used for the financial benefit of family, friends and allies.

http://theprogress.com http://theprogress.newspapers.com https://issuu.com/blackpress/docs/i2014030607013711/8 http://thevalleyvoice.ca