VOICE OPINION COLUMN

THE vote splitting that is expected in Surrey in the October 15 municipal election will most probably mean that whoever becomes the next mayor may not be taken seriously by either the vast majority of Surrey-ites or by the provincial government.

Whoever wins will most probably get ONLY 25 per cent of the total vote.

That means the winner will have NO credibility – and the Province can always snub that person on any issue. That would also mean that if that person wanted to pause or reverse the ongoing policing transition in Surrey, the Solicitor General could firmly turn down that request.

Let’s not forget that the LOUDEST argument the pro-RCMP folks made against getting rid of the Mounties was that the incumbent mayor – Doug McCallum – did not get 50 per cent of the total vote.

What is more, if any mayor does not have the support of at least FOUR Councillors, that person will not be able to get any meaningful work done in Council. That mayor will not be able to even authorize a referendum on anything!

A recent poll has little, if any, credibility. One reason that people view municipal polls with scepticism is that the turnout is very low – it was just over 30 per cent in Surrey last time. That means some or even many who express their views to pollsters may not even bother to go out to vote. Getting supporters to get out and vote for them will be key in winning for any party or individual.

Another reason the poll lacks credibility is the way that a multicultural society in Surrey works. Not all white people think the same way – nor do all non-white people think the same way even if they come from the same ethnic or sub-ethnic background. The poll states that “results were weighted according to age, gender, ethnicity and region.” How does one calculate the “ethnicity” part of it with so much diversity and division in the different groups?

So don’t believe any polls – WAIT for the FINAL results.

Remember how stunned and mortified the mainstream media – especially Global BC – and former mayor Dianne Watts looked on election day four years ago when their favourite mayoral candidate and his Surrey First team were virtually wiped out by Doug McCallum and his Safe Surrey Coalition?! Even the only Surrey First candidate who won had openly turned against her party’s policy on a certain development!