“Different approaches for different folks”

– Councillor Eric Woodward, Mayoral Candidate

In his 2022 campaign for mayor, Eric Woodward presented himself as a principled leader dedicated to serving the interests of the public. At that time, he openly criticized what he characterized as the Township having “different approaches for different folks.” 

Sadly, Mayor Woodward has failed to live up to his own mantra. His brief tenure as mayor has already shown that he picks favorites who serve his own interests – The Woodardians. Fire Truck Mike Thomson was the first of Mayor Woodward’s special friends to be exposed. For more details about that story, see here.

Recently another one of the Woodwardians has come into the spotlight: Township Councillor Rob Rindt. Joint public appearances and their voting records clearly demonstrate that Rob Rindt is a close associate of Eric Woodward. But only recently has their relationship become a point of concern due to a controversy involving a local farm.

The Defeated Application

West Creek Farms, a local supplier of landscape soils, has been a fixture of Fort Langley since 1986. At the June 24th 2024 Council Meeting, Council considered an application by West Creek to expand their business by building an on-site processing and distribution facility. Over the last four decades, the needs of the people of Langley have transformed drastically and hence the need for the application. In response to the changing needs of their neighbors, West Creek Farms planned to expand its permitted land use beyond traditional farming. Mayor Woodward and his allied councillors voted against the application, leading to its failure in a tied vote. Results of the vote can be viewed on page 8 here.

Rob Rindt’s Potential Conflict of Interest

Councillor Rob Rindt, who opposed the application, appears to be one of the direct competitors to West Creek Farms. Western Turf Farms is an established competitor to West Creek Farms’ existing business and would be at a disadvantage if the processing facility was approved. Not only is this competing soil business owned by Rob’s parents Erwin and Heidi Rindt, but Rob is also the general manager. Yet, he did not recuse himself from the vote. Like Western Creek Farms, they sell a variety of soil and sod products and related services. They compete in both organic and standard varieties of soils.

Not only do they have strikingly similar names and sell similar products, but the two farms are also spitting distance from each other.

According to Section 100 of the Community Charter 2004, council members are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest and recuse themselves from discussions on matters in which they might have a personal stake. 

On the very same vote for the West Creek application, Councillor Kim Richter recused herself from the meeting under Section 100 due to a potential conflict of interest related to her employment.

The question remains: Why did Cllr. Rob Rindt fail to disclose his potential conflict of interest and recuse himself from the vote?