Steve Ferguson is running for a seat on Langley Township council again, his latest in a series of elections that goes back to his first win in 1987. Ferguson said the issues were very different when he ran for his first term. The big issue then was getting free “two-way calling” from Aldergrove to Surrey. At the time, Aldergrove residents want to call Surrey still paid long distance charges. After the election the council worked with BC Tel on the issue, he recalled. Ferguson began
his electoral career when he was a university student, running for a spot on the UBC student council. He graduated and became a teacher in Delta, where he worked for decades. In the 1980s, it was suggested that he run for Township council by Fanny Scholtens, wife of then-councillor and future mayor John Scholtens. Ferguson won his first election, after a recount, by just 35 votes. Ferguson has not served continuously, having either lost an election or chosen not to run at various points since
then, but he has served more than 25 years on the council. He said the time he’s spent off council has been just as important as his time on it. “You learn more from losing than you do from winning,” Ferguson said. After multiple terms as an independent councillor, Ferguson joined the Progress For Langley slate and ran with them in the 2022 election, and he’s running with them again this time. Ferguson said he joined Mayor Eric Woodward’s slate after discussions with Woodward while
they were both on council during the 2018-22 term. Woodward was a big roads guy, while Ferguson was “a big parks and rec guy,” he said. He said he was proud of the work the council and the slate majority have done, defending the large expenditures to upgrade roads, parks and sports facilities, and a new firehall in Brookswood. He compared it to taking out a mortgage on a house. “We would have never built the Langley Events Centre if we hadn’t put a mortgage
on it,” Ferguson said. The municipal election will be held on Oct. 17 this year.
Steve Ferguson, Langley Township, Township council, municipal election, Oct. 17, BC Tel, two-way calling, Aldergrove, Surrey, Progress For Langley, Eric Woodward, Langley Events Centre, Brookswood firehall, parks, roads
35 votes… politics is literally a coin flip lol.
Wait so the whole “two-way calling” thing was a long distance bill fix?? I don’t know how this is still relevant in 2024 but okay. Congrats to him I guess for being around forever.
Sounds like he’s running again just because people never vote out the same guy. Also “mortgage” for the Langley Events Centre?? If that’s taxpayer money then that’s wild. Not sure if he thinks roads and parks magically pay for themselves.
I saw “Progress For Langley” and automatically thought it’s just Eric Woodward 2.0. Ferguson says he learned more from losing than winning but then he’s still been in and out forever, so like… was it losses or quitting? Brookswood firehall and all that sounds expensive, I’m just hoping they don’t screw up and waste more money on the next “upgrade.” Also BC Tel?? that’s not even a thing anymore right?