SOUTH WHIDBEY RECORD: Langley council picks Chaplin for mayor over fellow council member

Scott Chaplin has been appointed over Councilmember Thomas Gill by the Langley City Council to serve out the remainder of the term of Mayor Tim Callison who is resigning. Councilmembers grilled the two candidates on a number of issues including management style, financial concerns, traffic safety, climate change preparation and mandatory anti-racism training for city staff.

Chaplin, a past chairperson of the Island County Democrats, said “I don’t need people to like me, I just want everyone to do their best in their job and act as professionally as possible.” He voiced his support for mandatory anti-racism and anti-sexism training and said “Now I’m just at the point where I’m hoping that I’m less racist and sexist than my grandfather” and that “those in power will be at least somewhat blind to the power dynamics and the impressions they create.”

Councilmember Thomas Gill said he would mandate anti-racism training of some sort admitting he had some social anxiety himself.

Both Chaplin and Gill gave similar answers about preparing for the “dire effects” of climate change while Chaplin said there could be some cost savings in using more green energy in city operations. The third candidate, Roger Scrafford, had previously withdrawn his candidacy. Emily Gilbert has the complete story in the South Whidbey Record