Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke has officially announced her campaign for re-election this fall, positioning herself as a leader seeking to continue her work with what she describes as an "even stronger team." The announcement was made at a venue in South Surrey on Thursday evening, where Locke was joined by current councillors from her Surrey Connect slate and several new faces.
Locke's Re-election Platform and Team Composition
Locke, who won a majority on city council with her Surrey Connect slate in the 2022 election by defeating then-Mayor Doug McCallum, emphasized the need for "steady, proven leadership" in Surrey. "With exciting opportunities and real challenges ahead, Surrey needs steady, proven leadership. I'm ready to continue that work with an even stronger team," Locke stated in a news release.
Returning and New Candidates on the Slate
Seeking re-election alongside Locke are councillors Harry Bains, Pardeep Kooner, Rob Stutt, and Gord Hepner. The slate also welcomes new candidates, including Rona Tepper, a case worker for victim services at the RCMP and the wife of Conservative party MLA Bryan Tepper (Surrey-Panorama). Additionally, Noemi Victorino, executive director of Harvest to Hope and a former senior officer of trade and compliance with the Canada Border Services Agency, has joined the team. Victorino was previously a B.C. United candidate for Surrey-Guildford in 2024 before the party's collapse and merger with the B.C. Tories.
Opposition Candidates and Political Landscape
The mayoral race is shaping up to be competitive, with opposition Coun. Linda Annis running for mayor under the Surrey First banner. Coun. Mike Bose is also on the Surrey First slate again. Former NDP MLA Mike Starchuk has entered the race under a new slate called Imagine Surrey. Meanwhile, Doug McCallum, the former mayor, is rumored to be considering another run, though no official announcement has been made yet.
Historical Context and Policing Issues
Locke's political journey has been marked by significant shifts, particularly regarding policing. Initially serving as a city councillor from 2018 to 2022 on McCallum's Safe Surrey slate, Locke supported the plan to replace the Surrey RCMP with a municipal force. However, disagreements over this issue led to her departure from Safe Surrey in 2019, after which she became an Independent and later formed Surrey Connect with fellow ex-Safe Surrey Coun. Jack Hundial, who later withdrew.
In the 2022 election, Locke campaigned on a promise to halt the policing transition, a platform that contributed to her victory. Despite this, she ultimately lost a court battle with the B.C. government and was forced to proceed with the transition. The first three years of her term were dominated by this policing debacle, though recent months have seen a shift toward announcing new city projects, indicating a potential pivot in focus.
Analysis of Locke's Leadership and Future Prospects
While the members of Locke's slate in the last election were all new to politics, her own experience includes both council and mayoral roles. The ongoing divide between Locke and the Surrey police remains a backdrop, but her recent emphasis on new initiatives suggests an effort to move beyond past controversies. As the election approaches, voters will weigh her record against the promises of challengers like Annis and Starchuk, setting the stage for a dynamic and closely watched municipal race in Surrey.
