Kira Erickson reports for the South Whidbey Record from the Langley City Council meeting of Mon., May 15, 2023.
The Langley City Council may resume its recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the council ceased saying the pledge when virtual meetings became commonplace.
Now, with in-person meetings back in full swing in the council chambers of Langley City Hall, a return of the pledge may be imminent. Councilmember Thomas Gill, who is running for mayor, broached the subject during a meeting this week, which he said was suggested to him by Finance Director Wanda Grone.
They Said It
Restarting the pledge, [Gill] said, is about reiterating the beliefs in freedom, equality, liberty and justice, and helps center the council and participants before a meeting begins.
Councilmember Harolynne Bobis agreed, saying that the pledge speaks to what America strives to be. Councilmember Gail Fleming suggested adding a moment of silence where people can use the time as they see fit, whether it’s a prayer, the pledge, deep breathing or whatever it takes for them to be centered and proceed in a manner of peacefulness and respectfulness.
Councilmember Craig Cyr reminded the council that they said the mayor can choose the opening words for the meetings. He added that he has been appreciative of the current mayor’s decision to focus on a land acknowledgement of first peoples. While he said he’s not in favor of reciting the pledge at every single meeting, he agreed that there could be some reasonable compromise.
Bobis suggested doing both a land acknowledgement and the pledge. Gill said he would love to have the land acknowledgment, the pledge and a moment of silence.
On the Ballot in November 2023
| CITY OF LANGLEY |
| City Council: Two of five council positions are on the ballot. Position 3: Thomas E. Gill The Whidbey News-Times reported on May 5, 2023 that Christopher Carlson, the chairperson of the Langley Finance and Personnel Commission, will run for this seat. On Tue., May 16, Kay Kenneweg filed to run for this seat as well. Position 4: Craig Cyr Councilman Cyr filed to run for re-election on Mon., May 15. Mayor Chaplin filed to run for this seat on Fri., May 19. |
| Mayor: Scott Chaplin. Mayor Chaplin was appointed after the resignation of Tim Callison. This election will be for the remainder of Chaplin’s term, which ends Dec. 31, 2023, and the succeeding four-year full term, which ends Dec. 31, 2027. In April 2023, Chaplin announced that he would not run to retain his seat. Councilman Thomas Gill filed his intention to run for mayor with the Public Disclosure Commission on May 6, 2023. Kennedy Horstman, a member of the city’s Dismantling Systemic Racism Advisory Group, announced her intention to run and filed with the PDC on May 12, 2023. |
