August 12, 2010
MP taking on renovations
Langley MP Mark Warawa has spent most of the summer renovating a Murrayville commercial space which will become his new constituency office on Aug. 30. In the process, he has had fun, lost some weight and likely saved taxpayers about $20,000.
John Gordon/Langley Times
By Natasha Jones - Langley Times
Published: August 12, 2010 5:00 PM
A politician saving taxpayers’ money by the sweat of his brow and a lot of elbow grease?
The prospect is enough to make most unbelieving observers even more skeptical.
But it’s true.
Mark Wawara, Langley’s Conservative MP since 2004, has spent most of the summer renovating a former drug store in Murrayville which will become his new constituency office on Aug. 30.
From demolishing walls, ripping up carpets, laying laminate flooring and installing new lights, to painting, building new walls and hanging doors, nothing was too much for the MP.
He even did the plumbing for the toilet and kitchen renovations. All the work was inspected, and in areas where he was unable or unqualified to do the work, Warawa hired Langley sub-trades.
When the offices are ready for Warawa and his staff to move in, the MP will have completed 90 per cent of the work. He left the drywall and carpet laying to the professionals.
“I’m doing everything I can, but I know my limitations,” he said. By the end of this month, Warawa will have spent approximately $10,000 on a job which he estimates would have cost at least $30,000 had he hired a contractor, saving taxpayers a minimum of $20,000.
He said it was good for him physically and mentally.
“It’s fun and it’s therapeutic,” Warawa said. “It’s good for the taxpayer and I’ve lost a bit of weight, which is good.”
Warawa is frugal with his own money, and said there is a higher standard when spending the money taxpayers have earned.
The new constituency office is at #104, 4769-222 St., in the Campbell, Burton and McMullan law building behind the Wired Monk.
Warawa’s office is one of the busiest MP’s premises in the country. “It will be easier for people to come and see us,” he said of the new location.
Randy White was the MP for Langley-Abbotsford when he opened the current constituency office in Milner 10 years ago. Warawa moved in when he won election in June, 2004 as the first MP for Langley as an individual riding.
The Murrayville office provides more parking, is on a transit route, and is in walking distance of Murrayville’s population of retired people. Warawa is hoping he can persuade them to volunteer at the office, tapping into their time, knowledge and willingness.
“Langley is known for its volunteers, and this will help them to stay active,” he said.
