Dear Editor,

Last time I checked, we lived in an open democracy. I always thought this to mean that, through due process and fair, open public consultation, the electorate could vote on and decide issues that face our community. Our elected council, acting on our behalf, would then manage these issues and spend our tax dollars appropriately.

Over the past year, actions by several Township councillors and Mayor Jack Froese have raised red flags that seem to point to a lack of due public process followed on several important issues facing taxpayers.

Time after time in the news lately, I read about how special interest groups (i.e. universities and churches) seem to be getting favoured backroom financial and land deals.

Are church and state not separate in Langley?

Local land deals and tax spending in relation to Trinity Western University are incredibly disturbing.

Here are a few more to jog your memory:

- Fort Langley development pushed through, despite large community objection. Who stands to gain from this? Follow the trail of players and see which interest groups they belong to.

- Langley Events Centre addition pushed through council and approved without public consultation for millions of your taxpayer dollars, very quickly. Why? How?

- Aldergrove pool and recreation centre project proposal, rapidly pushed aside, and shelved without any public inquiry.

- TWU expansion on ALR land and Wall Farm development land deals also pushed through despite considerable public objection.

- We've had members of the public removed and barred from current public council sessions for stating objections to council's questionable actions and policies. Why? This is not democratic. It is our civic right and part of our due process.

There needs to be an investigation of our council and its ties to local special interest groups. There appears to be a serious conflict of interest that is diverting projects, land deals, and large sums of taxpayer dollars directly to interests which most certainly do not represent the wishes of the diverse electorate here in Langley.

D. Crawford, Langley