Mayoral Jeopardy event brings seven Surrey candidates together

Seven Surrey mayoral candidates took part in a post-breakfast mock Jeopardy-style game Sept. 23 at Whalley’s Civic Hotel, seeking support ahead of the Oct. 17 civic election. The Downtown Business Improvement Association staged the event, which Jordan Bateman moderated. Audience questions were not permitted.

Troy Van Vliet of Surrey NOW, Doug McCallum of the Safe Surrey Coalition, Brenda Locke of Surrey Connect, Linda Annis of Surrey First, Mike Starchuk of Imagine Surrey, Honveer Singh Randhawa of the Conservative Party of Surrey and Igal Ammons II of New Surrey+ selected questions on housing, public safety, growth and economic development, transportation and leadership. The report described the event as polite, with no clear winner.

In closing remarks, McCallum said his slate would freeze taxes for four years, bring in a police helicopter, and build three indoor pools and tracks if elected. Randhawa said Surrey needs younger people with new leadership. Annis said she would offer an open-door policy at city hall and continue dialogue with residents.

Van Vliet said safer streets, smart growth, families first and a rent-to-own housing policy were priorities for him. Locke said she was privileged to be mayor and wanted to continue projects already underway, adding that not everything can be done in one term. Starchuk said voters want change after eight years of what he characterized as the same faces and results. Ammons II pointed to people without jobs or homes who cannot afford their circumstances.

The report also noted that Locke was a clue on the real Jeopardy program in July 2025. The clue referred to the government role held by Winnipeg’s Scott Gillingham and Surrey, B.C.’s Locke; the program aired in Canada and the United States.