City Councillor Brenda Locke bolts from Safe Surrey Coalition

SURREY (NEWS 1130) – Saying it’s become obvious that Mayor Doug McCallum has a “my-way-or-the-highway approach to governing,” Surrey City Councillor Brenda Locke has announced she’s leaving the Safe Surrey Coalition.

Locke says says she was elected to speak on behalf of the citizens of the community but is finding it more and more difficult as part McCallum’s party.

“There was a number of reasons that have brought me to this place,” she tells NEWS 1130. “Ultimately, it was the mayor’s press release that publicly questioned my own personal integrity.

“He said I was fear mongering and irresponsible with regards to my reaction to Sophie’s Place,” Locke says.

Sophie’s Place is a facility run by the police, the city, and healthcare specialists designed to help child victims of abuse.Locke had expressed concerns over how the switch to a municipal police force might impact the centre.

Now, she says she’s even considering legal action against the mayor over his accusation.

“I was elected by the people of Surrey to speak up for them and advocate for their interests, but it has become impossible to do as part of Safe Surrey,” Locke had said in an initial release announcing her resignation from the party. “I ran as part of a coalition, but it’s become obvious that Mayor McCallum has a my-way-or-the-highway approach to governing.”

Locke is the second member of the Safe Surrey Coalition to leave the party in recent weeks.

She admits it’s been difficult on council, and claims the mayor doesn’t consult councillors on much.

Locke plans to sit as an Independent.

“It certainly at least lets the citizens of Surrey know that I am willing and able to listen to their thoughts and I am not going to be speaking on behalf of the mayor,” she adds.

Locke notes her concerns are “larger” than just the policing transition, and adds she believes city council is becoming “dysfunctional.”

Mayor Doug McCallum says that council is running efficiently and that everyone gets an opportunity to speak or to move motions.

“Brenda chose to run with the Safe Surrey Coalition fully aware of our platform and agenda. She was elected because of the issues we campaigned on were what Surrey voters overwhelmingly wanted to see action on,” says McCallum. “Brenda will now have to answer to the tens of thousands of voters she has abandoned.

In May, Councillor Steven Pettigrew left the Safe Surrey Coalition after council failed to protect Hawthorne Park from the city pushing a road through it.

McCallum says both Lock and Pettigrew will need to answer for their choices to the residents of Surrey.

“I think they campaigned on a platform in their campaign when they did, in the Safe Surrey Coalition. And they will have to answer to the public as far as that voted for them on the platform.