Safe Surrey Coalition: Doug McCallum announces re-election bid, vows to deliver Surrey’s defining legacy

FORMER Surrey mayor Doug McCallum on Monday announced he will seek re-election as mayor, pledging to build on a record of transformational infrastructure investment, fiscal discipline, and public safety leadership, and to cement Surrey’s place as a global city.

“Surrey, I never stopped working for you. We delivered SkyTrain to Clayton Heights, brought UBC to our city, built Bear Creek Stadium, built the 84th Avenue Road Connector that linked communities, and widened roads across the city, and we did it all while keeping property taxes at historic lows. But we are not finished. I’m running to solidify Surrey’s legacy,” McCallum said.

McCallum noted he oversaw the delivery of the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain extension to Clayton Heights, construction of the 84th Avenue Road Connector, the development of Bear Creek Stadium, and the establishment of a UBC campus in Surrey. The City maintained a 2.1% property tax increase while funding hundreds of millions of dollars in new infrastructure.

He said that Surrey operated under RCMP policing with no local accountability and no community control. He added that he changed that. He led the establishment of the Surrey Police Service, giving Surrey its own officers, its own leadership, and a police service that answers to the people it serves.

If elected, McCallum has committed to the following campaign promises:

* SkyTrain to Newton. Extending rapid transit south to connect Newton to the broader Metro Vancouver network, delivering on the long-term vision for a fully linked Surrey.

* Zero Tolerance Policy and more boots on the ground. A significant expansion of policing resources and personnel, backed by a zero tolerance policy on criminal and extortion activity, to directly confront and eliminate it across the city.

* SPS helicopter within 90 days. Within the first 90 days of taking office, McCallum has committed to purchasing a dedicated helicopter for the Surrey Police Service. The aircraft will provide aerial surveillance and rapid response capability to combat gang activity and extortion across the city.

* New swimming pool for Clayton Heights. McCallum will deliver a new community swimming pool for Clayton Heights, fulfilling a long-standing need for a community that has been central to Surrey’s growth.

* Crescent Beach and Ocean Park heritage designation. McCallum will designate Crescent Beach and Ocean Park as protected heritage zones, shielding both neighbourhoods from the density pressures created by the province’s Bill 44. The designation will protect the natural scenery, community character, and irreplaceable coastal environment that generations of Surrey families have called home.

* Zero percent property tax increases for four years. In the face of a mounting affordability crisis, McCallum has committed to zero percent property tax increases for four consecutive years. With families stretched, renters squeezed, and small businesses fighting to survive uncertain economic times, city hall must lead by example. Keeping the tax rate frozen means more money stays in the hands of the hardworking Surrey families, renters, and small business owners who need it most.

* Surrey Centre Opportunity Zone. A bold initiative that will transform the heart of Surrey into a place where ambitious visions become reality. City fees eliminated. Red tape cut. Transformational projects, the kind that changed the skylines of Dubai, New York, and London, fast-tracked right here in Surrey. This is how Surrey becomes a global city.

The Opportunity Zone will be designed for everyone. Attainable housing for middle-class families who want to own a home in the city they work in. A level playing field for the small businesses, local entrepreneurs, and mom-and-pop shops that are the backbone of Surrey’s neighbourhoods. In this zone, city hall says yes.

“We are going to build a place in Surrey where ambition is rewarded and bureaucracy does not exist. Big ideas and small businesses will find the same open door. That is how you change a skyline. That is how you change people’s lives,” said McCallum.

His campaign slogan is “Doug Gets It Done.”

THE Safe Surrey Coalition’s Council candidates are Mandeep Nagra and Doug Elford.

NAGRA is an active member of the Surrey community who is proudly raising a family in this city. A strong voice on council for small business owners, Mandeep has used his business experience to implement policy changes that have cut bureaucratic red tape and simplified the process for entrepreneurs to start and grow businesses in Surrey.
He has served on numerous committees including the City of Surrey Finance Committee, the Investment and Innovation Impact Committee, and the Development Advisory Committee as Chair. He has been a consistent advocate for creating a diversified economy that generates local jobs for Surrey residents.
Nagra is committed to leading Surrey towards a safe environment with the Surrey Police Service. He supports the Zero Tolerance Policy on criminal activity and the expansion of SPS resources, including the dedicated police helicopter, that will make Surrey’s streets safe for families and businesses alike.
As part of the Safe Surrey Coalition’s Surrey Centre Opportunity Zone initiative, Mandeep will be a central voice for small businesses and entrepreneurs who deserve a city hall that removes barriers instead of creating them.
“Safe Surrey Coalition has a strong record of supporting small businesses and creating jobs for Surrey residents. We are committed to building an economy that works for the people who live and work here. The Opportunity Zone is how we deliver that next chapter,” says Nagra.

DOUG Elford has lived in Surrey for 36 years and has spent his career as an environmental protection officer with the City of Vancouver. A long-time grassroots community activist with a proven track record, he has dedicated himself to listening to residents and building a public service that is fair to all people in Surrey.
Elford is an active member of the Newton Community Association and has volunteered extensively in the local sports community, including as a leader in the Newton Canadian Baseball Association.
He believes in strong, principled leadership that puts residents first.
On council, Elford has been a strong voice for fiscal management and community investment. He delivered the new 84th Avenue Road Connector that reduced congestion and connected communities, and has been a consistent advocate for the infrastructure investments that give Surrey’s neighbourhoods the attention they deserve.
Elford believes Surrey must focus on housing affordability, homelessness, public safety, crime reduction, improved transit, and financial responsibility. He sees the immense possibilities Surrey has to become a global city and is running to make that vision real, alongside McCallum and the Safe Surrey Coalition.
Elford is committed to delivering SkyTrain to Newton, connecting Surrey’s communities once and for all. He is also a strong advocate for a new swimming pool for Clayton Heights, a community that has been central to Surrey’s growth and deserves the investment.
“For years the community of Newton has been asking for investment. We listened and we delivered. We are committed to building the infrastructure that will allow Surrey to take its place as one of the great cities of British Columbia,” says Elford.