In Surrey, a prominent political figure from the past three decades has returned to the spotlight. Doug McCallum has secured his fifth term as mayor of Surrey, as projected by CBC News. McCallum emerged victorious in a competitive race, triumphing over five other candidates, including Surrey Coun. Linda Annis and the incumbent Brenda Locke, who had narrowly defeated him in the city’s 2022 election.
Expressing his love for Surrey and its people, McCallum addressed his enthusiastic supporters, pledging to work together to create a thriving city where families can live, work, and enjoy various amenities. Initial results indicate that McCallum’s Safe Surrey slate is poised to potentially dominate seven out of eight council seats in the city.
Following the election outcome, Locke gracefully conceded the race, acknowledging the voters’ decision and wishing success to those entrusted with leading Surrey. McCallum’s previous mayoral terms in 1996, 1999, and 2002 were followed by his re-election in 2018, during which he advocated for transitioning the city to a municipal police force and extending the SkyTrain to Langley.
Locke, who took office in 2022 with a promise to reverse the police transition, faced challenges in implementing the plan, leading to scrutiny of her leadership during the campaign. McCallum’s campaign, heavily promoted in Punjabi media, included ambitious promises such as advocating for a SkyTrain extension to Newton and proposing a new hospital in the same area.
Furthermore, McCallum vowed to explore withdrawing Surrey from the Metro Vancouver Regional District, introduce a ward system for city councillors, and appoint an independent forensic auditor to scrutinize recent municipal land transactions. Other commitments by McCallum include a four-year freeze on property taxes, bolstering police resources, and acquiring a helicopter for the Surrey Police Service. Additionally, his Safe Surrey Coalition intends to safeguard the Crescent Beach and Ocean Park communities by designating them as “protected heritage zones” to exempt them from certain housing regulations.