Advance voting opened at the Fleetwood Community Centre in Surrey on Oct. 8 as residents cast ballots in the municipal election for mayor, eight councillors and six school trustees.
The Story
Advance voting is underway in Surrey as residents prepare to choose who will fill 15 positions at city hall and on the school board, including the mayor, eight councillors and six school trustees.
At the Fleetwood Community Centre advance voting station on Wednesday, voters cited concerns including public safety amid an ongoing extortion crisis, traffic and property taxes.
The race for mayor includes seven candidates, with incumbent Mayor Brenda Locke, former mayor Doug McCallum and two-term city councillor Linda Annis among those drawing significant attention.
Locke’s platform includes a $1.4 billion investment plan across five priorities, with $600 million earmarked for recreation, culture and community facilities and $485 million for public safety and emergency services.
McCallum said he would expand SkyTrain service to Newton, freeze property tax increases for four years, and take a zero-tolerance approach to criminal and extortion activity.
Annis has said she would add 300 police officers over four years and create a police training centre intended to speed up recruitment.
Political scientist Hamish Telford said the similar priorities offered by several leading candidates could contribute to a divided vote, adding, “I think it is going to play out with a deeply divided vote. We saw that the last time in Surrey. They are all pretty much saying the same thing.”
Surrey’s chief election officer Gib van Ert said the city has expanded advance voting locations to meet demand, noting that the number of advance locations has grown from six in the 2022 election to 10 this time.
More advance voting will take place across Surrey on Oct. 10, 14 and 15, and residents can find locations and additional information on the City of Surrey’s website.
← More stories