'You sent a very big message': Brenda Locke wins Surrey mayor's race
The City of Surrey will have a new mayor for the next four years.
The CTV News Decision Desk has declared that Brenda Locke will win the race for the city's top job. With more than 90 per cent of the city's polls reporting, she was leading by roughly 1,600 votes over her nearest challenger, incumbent Mayor Doug McCallum.
Former Liberal MLA and MP Gordie Hogg was third, while NDP MLA and former MP Jinny Sims, and Liberal MP Sukh Dhaliwal – two big-name candidates who entered the race against McCallum – were in fourth and fifth place, respectively.
- Follow all of CTV News Vancouver's Election Coverage here
After a tumultuous four-year term that saw several councillors – including Locke – leave his Safe Surrey Coalition, McCallum was the focal point of the mayoral campaign.
Speaking to supporters after she learned the news, Locke mentioned McCallum by name.
"Surrey, you sure did have something to say – and you said it tonight," Locke told the cheering crowd.
"You sent a very big message to Doug, to his crew, to his land speculators, to his buddies, to the political establishment in Surrey."
'WE NEED TO KEEP THE RCMP'
Locke's biggest campaign promise was to reverse the city's transition to a municipal police force.
Creating the Surrey Police Service was McCallum's biggest campaign promise from the 2018 election. The SPS has been deploying officers alongside the Surrey RCMP for nearly a year.
During her victory speech, Locke reiterated her policing promise.
"First of all, we need to keep the Surrey RCMP right here in Surrey," she said, to loud applause.
In an interview with CTV News after her speech, Locke provided few details on how the policing promise would be implemented.
She did say she'd contact the provincial Solicitor General to say that the city would not be continuing the police transition process.
Asked for a response to Locke's comments on Surrey's policing future, SPS spokesperson Ian MacDonald told CTV News the department would "stay away from politics tonight."
MacDonald added that the service currently has 350 police and civilian employees, including just under 300 police officers.
'IT WAS A VERY TIGHT RACE'
Pollster Mario Canseco, president of Research Co., said Locke's position as former member of McCallum's party helped her make a compelling case that the incumbent's leadership style wasn't working.
"It was a very tight race from the get-go, we knew it was going to be close," Canseco said.
"I think she connected very well," he added. "And the results were certainly on her side tonight."
COUNCIL MAJORITY ELECTED
Early returns for the city council election showed significant turnover as well.
As of 9:30 p.m., the CTV News Decision Desk had declared that Surrey First Councillor Linda Annis and Safe Surrey Coalition Councillor Doug Elford would be re-elected.
Incumbent Safe Surrey Councillor Mandeep Nagra was leading, but had not yet been declared victorious.
CTV News has also declared Surrey First council candidate Mike Bose and Surrey Connect candidates Harry Bains, Gordon Hepner, Rob Stutt and Pardeep Kooner elected.
Locke was Surrey Connect's mayoral candidate, meaning she will have the five votes needed for a majority when the new council convenes.
MCCALLUM'S CONCESSION
About 30 minutes after Locke spoke to her supporters, McCallum made a brief concession speech.
"The people have spoken, and that's what elections are all about," the outgoing mayor said.
He added that he had been proud to serve Surrey as mayor for several terms, and mused that it may be time for him to "put (his) feet up."
During the campaign, McCallum's opponents slammed his proposal to build a 60,000-seat stadium in the city, calling it a "fantasy." Locke also promised to reverse McCallum's signature proposal from the last election: replacing the RCMP with a municipal police force.
McCallum also faced criticism for his public mischief charge, the trial for which is scheduled to begin Oct. 31.
Opposition to the incumbent was widely seen as the catalyst for several big-name candidates getting into the race, including Locke, Dhaliwal, Sims and Hogg.
To follow election results, tune in to CTV News Vancouver for live, commercial-free and up-to-the-minute coverage. Results will also be posted regularly online.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6951886.1720127955!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
ANALYSIS Why are Trudeau and Singh avoiding Stampede this year?
This year, only Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre will be saddling up for the event, while both Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and NDP leader Jagmeet Singh will stay away.
Protesters smash windows at McGill University; police use tear gas to disperse crowd
Montreal police deployed tear gas as they dispersed a crowd of protesters participating in a pro-Palestinian demonstration after members of the group smashed windows at McGill University Friday evening.
Everything Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said publicly about Donald Trump
While Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took a measured tone when talking about Donald Trump during his first presidency, the Canadian leader has been a little more direct since. As we head closer to a U.S. election this fall, CTVNews.ca takes a look at everything Trudeau has said publicly about the presumptive Republican nominee.
Hamas clears the way for a possible ceasefire after dropping key demand, officials say
Hamas has given initial approval for a U.S.-backed proposal for a phased ceasefire deal in Gaza, dropping a key demand that Israel gives an up-front commitment for a complete end to the war, a Hamas and an Egyptian official said Saturday.
Stay away from hogweed: What you need to know about these pesky and dangerous plants
Hogweed is harmful to humans and, experts say, the invasive species has become a growing problem in southern Ontario.
Soccer-Canada's Davies scores shootout penalty to bury World Cup demons
Canada captain Alphonso Davies banished memories of his penalty miss at the 2022 World Cup by confidently converting a spot-kick in a shootout victory over Venezuela in the Copa America quarter-finals on Friday.
2 teenagers die while swimming at New York's Coney Island Beach, police say
Two teenagers died while swimming at New York's Coney Island Beach in Brooklyn, police said.
Ottawa woman, 49, wins $70 million, plans to help community
An Ottawa woman, who has survived cancer and has overcome addiction, has won $70 million with Lotto Max.
Biden rejects independent medical evaluation in ABC interview as he fights to stay in race
U.S. President Joe Biden, fighting to save his endangered reelection effort, used a highly anticipated TV interview Friday to repeatedly reject taking an independent medical evaluation that would show voters he is up for serving another term in office while blaming his disastrous debate performance on a 'bad episode' and saying there were 'no indications of any serious condition.'