SURREY Mayor Brenda Locke and Surrey Connect on Tuesday announced two experienced community leaders as candidates for Surrey City Council: Vera LeFranc and Michael Dunn.

LeFranc is a former city councillor first elected in 2014. She holds a degree in business and has served as CEO, COO, and Executive Director of organizations focused on housing, health services, and business enterprises. She was named one of the top 10 inaugural Municipal Innovators by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

“I am so grateful to be joining this team,” said LeFranc. “Over the last four years, I’ve watched Mayor Brenda Locke and the Surrey Connect-led Council deliver for Surrey. Having held multiple roles in Surrey-based non-profits, I have seen firsthand how much Mayor Locke and her team care about our City’s residents. They are supporting non-profits like never before, and they are never more than a call away.

“Some may ask why I am running with Surrey Connect and not with Surrey First. Let me tell you: Under Linda Annis’ leadership, Surrey First is no longer the party of Dianne Watts or Linda Hepner. It’s no longer the party that I ran with in 2014.

“Surrey residents saw reports that Linda Annis instructed the police chief to remove impaired-driving check stops near her home and a local golf course. There is never an appropriate time for impaired driving or interfering in police services. That kind of judgment does not reflect the leadership Surrey deserves.

“Brenda and her team are delivering for Surrey, and they’re focused on major community infrastructure like the Newton Community Centre – delivering a new pool, library, and so much more for Newton and all of Surrey. Mayor Locke has proven herself as a leader. She has made the tough decisions, she has shown up for her community, and she has led a talented team who have delivered for Surrey. I am ready to join them and continue this work.”

Dunn is a longtime Surrey resident with degrees in economics and law. After building a successful law practice, he transitioned to being a realtor based in South Surrey to spend more time with his two children. He has coached tee-ball and served on the Squadron Sponsoring Committee for his local Air Cadets.

At the announcement, Dunn said, “Over the last four years, I have seen the work Surrey Connect has put into building Surrey. And it’s clear they have the plan to continue delivering for Surrey. Hiring 560 additional public safety personnel, building a new 15-acre police training campus, and a new three-sheet ice arena in South Surrey. And just a couple weeks ago, Mayor Locke promised to build a new aquatic centre in Cloverdale, a facility that will make swimming more accessible for Cloverdale families while taking pressure off the over-subscribed Grandview Heights Aquatic Centre.

“Surrey Connect will deliver all this because they fixed the fiscal mess left behind by the previous administration. This team has proven time and time again that it can deliver for Surrey with transparency and ethics. And that’s why I’m here today. I’m ready to join that team. Together, we are going to deliver for Surrey.”

Locke welcomed both candidates, stating: “Thank you, Vera and Michael. We look forward to having you join us on Council.”