Blair Whitmarsh: The Professor-Politician Returns
Blair Whitmarsh is back on the ballot. I took a look at who he is, and put some of his claims to the test.
Langley Township voters will head to the polls on October 25 to fill the council seat left empty when Misty Van Popta moved to the provincial legislature. Standing for that seat is a familiar face: Blair Whitmarsh. He served two council terms, placed second in the 2022 mayor’s race, and has long been part of the Brookswood community.
His campaign message emphasizes his experience on council and his belief that he is well-suited for the role. He first arrived in Langley in the mid-1980s to attend Trinity Western University. After completing graduate studies in Alberta, he returned in the 1990s and settled here. He is now Dean of Human Kinetics and Athletics at TWU and a sport psychologist.
Over the years, he has authored books, served on sport boards, coached youth soccer, and worked at the W.C. Blair Rec Centre when it opened. He is also active in his church and with the Salvation Army’s Gateway of Hope. Earlier in his career, he contributed to discussions on the Langley Events Centre design during TWU’s partnership with the Township.
Whitmarsh entered municipal politics in 2014 and was re-elected in 2018. He was recognized for advocating a “smart growth” approach in Brookswood Fernridge, aiming to balance new development with preserving local character. His committee assignments reflected his background in recreation and culture. He was regarded as a steady, consensus-focused councillor.
When current mayor Jack Froese retired in 2022, Whitmarsh ran for the top spot with Froese’s support. However, the election outcome favored Eric Woodward’s slate. Woodward led with nearly 11,000 votes, while Whitmarsh came in second with just over 6,800. Former MLA Rich Coleman finished third.
Whitmarsh has said he is returning because he believes community priorities deserve renewed focus, debt levels require attention, and families face increasing challenges. Relations with Metro Vancouver and the Province have also been strained in recent months, with disputes over housing rules and regional service coordination. He emphasizes the importance of responsible growth and collaborative relationships with Langley City, Metro Vancouver, and provincial partners.
In his launch video, he posed a set of questions:
What if Langley could build infrastructure without increasing debt substantially?
What if relationships with community partners and neighbouring municipalities were improved?
What if all councillors worked together for the Township’s benefit?
He presents himself as “a leader who listens” and is ready to return to council. I took a look at these points which form the core of his platform:
Claim 1: Langley can build needed infrastructure without maximizing the debt load.
Fact Check: Maybe
Debt has risen to more than $660 million since 2022. Projects such as the Youth Soccer Campus and the arena complex are key drivers. Building essentials without further large borrowing is possible, but it requires deferring or scaling these amenities and prioritizing core assets such as water, roads, and reservoirs.
Claim 2: Langley has poor relationships with community partners and neighbouring municipalities.
Fact Check: True, there have been new challenges
In May 2025, Langley City and the Township ended their shared policing agreement after more than three decades, with the City describing a loss of trust. Fraser Valley Current has described Mayor Woodward’s approach as having "an urgency and willingness to ruffle feathers that stands apart." Around the same time, the Township withdrew from its joint arrangement and shifted animal control, prompting the City to explore alternatives. Relations with Metro Vancouver and the Province have also been tense, including disputes tied to utilities and regional coordination.
Claim 3: If Blair wins, Woodward will lose his majority.
Fact Check: False
Councillor Michael Pratt has announced he is joining the mayor’s slate, which locks in a 5 of 9 majority for the remainder of this term regardless of the by-election outcome. A Whitmarsh win would still add an experienced independent voice, but it would not change the arithmetic.
The by-election will decide who fills the vacant seat. Council dynamics will be shaped more by the newly confirmed majority than by this single result, although the successful candidate’s scrutiny and votes will still matter on individual files.