FOUR-TERM Surrey Councillor Mary Martin on Wednesday announced that she will not seek re-election in the October municipal election.

First elected in 2005, Martin sits on the City’s finance and police committees, chairs Surrey’s Diversity Advisory Committee and Healthy Communities Partnership, and represents Surrey on the board of Metro Vancouver.

“Over the past 13 years, it has been a real honour to serve the citizens of Surrey, and to have worked so closely with Linda Hepner and Dianne Watts, two genuinely amazing mayors,” said Martin. “At the same time, I have also enjoyed working in collaboration with my Surrey First council colleagues on issues and opportunities that make our city a tremendous place to live, work and raise a family. Surrey has certainly changed over the past 13 years, and grown substantially. Families and businesses like what they see here, and that speaks volumes about our city’s potential. I also want to acknowledge and thank our city staff, everyone from the senior management team, to the many employees who work tirelessly every single day to make sure Surrey has earned its role as a great city, one with an incredible future.”

Martin said it was time for her to focus on her family, and to give others in the community the chance to step up and help shape Surrey in the exciting years ahead.

“I’m looking forward to spending more time with my husband and two little grandsons, but I am not going far,” said Martin, a Surrey resident for more than 20 years. “I love working with this incredible community and the people who call Surrey home. So, whether it’s as a councillor, or as a community volunteer, I always hope to contribute and help make a difference.”

Mayor Linda Hepner thanked Martin for her years of service, particularly her work with community volunteers, and the countless local organizations committed to building strong neighbourhoods and a healthy community.

“Mary’s passion for this city is evident in everything she does,” said Hepner. “She has spent every one of her 13 years on council working hard to make Surrey a better city, and I know I speak for the entire community when I thank her for giving so much of her time and talent to the city she loves. Mary’s range of interests and responsibilities, from city finances and healthy neighbourhoods, to regional government and the importance of sport and culture in building connected communities, says a lot about her and the pride she takes in our city.”