Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum has sights set on re-election despite mischief charge
Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum has remained relatively quiet since a special Crown prosecutor approved a public mischief charge against him on Friday.
On Saturday, CTV News Vancouver knocked on his door to try to get answers.
“Unfortunately, I can't make any comments today,” said McCallum through a half-opened door. “I have already made a comment and I'm going to stay with my comment.”
The comment in question was provided via email, in which he wrote: "We are in the middle of changing from RCMP to the Surrey Police Service and as this matter is before the courts, I will not be making any comment.”
City councilor Jack Hundial, a former Mountie of 25 years, was unimpressed with the mayor’s written statement.
“I think this is part of his gaslighting attempts over the years, where he, you know, brings issues or conferences into something that truly has no relevance,” he said. “Regardless of a transition or not, the police are the police and the Criminal Code is the Criminal Code.”
Hundial, along with councillors Brenda Locke and Linda Annis, is calling on McCallum to step down as mayor and chair of the Surrey Police Board.
“Clearly, to me, there's a conflict of interest with him being the (board) chair of the Surrey Police Service while he's under investigation and has been charged,” said Annis.
McCallum told CTV News he will not step down and instead, he wants to run for re-election during the next municipal election in 2022.
“I have tremendous support from the majority of my councillors,” he said.
UBC associate professor of political science Gerald Baier said if a provincial or federal elected official were to face a criminal charge, there would be more party pressure to step down, but municipal politics are not the same.
Still, with the fall 2022 municipal election on the horizon, some of McCallum’s supporters may feel differently, Baier said.
“Nobody likes this kind of thing attached to their party or to their team,” Baier said. “McCallum's team might be a little bit more intent on dealing with this in one way or another. And so if the pressure comes from within, I think that will be the thing that will motivate a resignation much more than opposition councillors calling for it, even if it does seem like the right thing.”
McCallum remained tight-lipped on Saturday, saying the issue is now before the courts.
His first court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 25.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Security guard shot, seriously injured outside of Drake's Toronto mansion
A security guard working at Drake’s Bridle Path mansion in Toronto was seriously injured in a shooting outside the residence early Tuesday morning, police said.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Your body needs these three forms of movement every week
Movement is movement, right? Not exactly. Here’s what your body is looking for in addition to your morning walk or yoga session, according to experts.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
Quebec to limit sperm donations per donor after 3 men from same family father hundreds of children
Quebec is looking at tightening the regulations around sperm donation in the province following the release of a documentary that revealed three men from the same family fathered hundreds of children.
How to overcome 'savings guilt' when you're living paycheque to paycheque
As the higher cost of living continues to squeeze household budgets, many Canadians find they have even less left over at the end of every month to squirrel away for the future.
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.