Hunt won’t dismiss run

By Kevin Diakiw - Surrey North Delta Leader - March 21, 2008

Most, if not all, city councillors will be back on the ballot this November, despite new opportunities arising on the provincial front.

The Electoral Boundaries Commission is recommending an increase in the number of ridings, including one in central Surrey that would be known as Surrey-Fleetwood.

Many Surrey councillors have been approached to run in the May, 2009 provincial election, but none are considering it, except for Coun. Marvin Hunt, who is open to the possibility of running for the Liberals in Surrey-Fleetwood.

“It isn’t far-fetched to think I would be well-interested in it and I am interested in a lot of the issues that are there,” Hunt said. “I think it’s a very winnable seat for the free-enterprise persuasion.”

He said his civic campaigns show he always performs well in the polling stations in the area of Fleetwood.

“I’ve done well in Fleetwood over the last number of years,” Hunt said.

But for now, he’s focused on running in the next municipal election. He vowed he wouldn’t do both, which would force a civic by-election.

“Me running for council (would be) a clear indication that I’m not running provincially,” Hunt said.

Many other councillors have been approached by the provincial parties, but all others are saying they won’t seek a job as MLA next year.

Coun. Tom Gill had been approached by the Liberals early into his civic term, but said last week he won’t run for a legislative seat.

Coun. Linda Hepner had also been reportedly courted for a possible run with the Liberals in Surrey-Panorama Ridge, but she said “absolutely not.”

Coun. Judy Villeneuve had been tapped to run with the New Democrats in the next election, but like Gill and Hepner, said there’s much to do on the civic front.

Mayor Dianne Watts has consistently said she plans to run for a second term.

Couns. Bob Bose, Mary Martin and Barbara Steele said they haven’t been approached, nor are they interested.

Coun. Judy Higginbotham, who is a federal Liberal candidate in South Surrey, could not be reached for comment.

kdiakiw@surreyleader.com

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Hunt won’t dismiss run

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