Surrey First announced June 25 that current council member Linda Hepner will be putting herself forward as the party's mayoral candidate for the municipal elections this fall.
Held at Simon Fraser University’s (SFU) Surrey campus, the event was attended by many of the city's community stakeholders and politicians. The event began with outgoing mayor and Surrey First founder Dianne Watts introducing the Surrey First team followed by her “fully and without reservation” endorsing Hepner to the crowd.
“While today Dianne has passed the torch, the purpose for Surrey First remains the same,” said Hepner after being introduced by Watts.
“I’m committed to building on the momentum that we have created over the last nine years, and creating more jobs here in Surrey for our residents. Our team is committed to a safe community,” she said, going on to address the issues of crime, transportation and cultural engagement.
Also among the announcements were new three new additions to the Surrey First councillor slate. The new faces are Vera LeFranc, senior manager of community projects for Vancity and a co-ordinator of the Surrey Homeless and Housing Fund, Dave Woods, a retired RCMP staff sergeant and former district commander for Port Kells-Cloverdale and longtime firefighter Mike Starchuk who was not present at the event.
The three new members will join incumbent councillors Tom Gill, Bruce Hayne, Mary Martin, Barbara Steele and Judy Villeneuve who will all be seeking re-election this fall.
“I feel incredibly proud to be on the Surrey First team,” said LeFranc after the announcement. “I personally have wanted to make a commitment to political life for a long time, so when I was asked it was an easy decision for me.”
Woods felt similarly pleased to be among the Surrey First group.
“I’ve known the councillors for a long time… but I was honoured they asked me, frankly. Surrey First has done a very good job in running the City of Surrey,” he said. “It’s very much what I’ve done before in dealing with the community and working with the community and I enjoy it so I want to contribute in a positive way.”
LeFranc, Starchuk and Woods replace Hepner, Marvin Hunt and Barinder Rasode as the party's council candidates. Hunt left his councillor position earlier this year after being elected MLA for Surrey-Panorama in the 2013 provincial election, while Rasode split from Surrey First in April citing disagreements with the party.
Hepner was first elected to Surrey council in 2005 and was subsequently re-elected in 2008 and 2011. Prior to her political career, Hepner worked as the city's manager of economic development for more than 20 years before retiring and running for office in 2005.
Hepner is currently the only person to declare intent to run in Surrey’s mayoral election.
With files from Christopher Poon
