SURREY – The Surrey First dominated council led by new Mayor Linda Hepner were sworn into office on Monday. A crowd of about 400 packed council chambers to witness the ceremonies.
Hepner began by thanking outgoing mayor Dianne Watts, who was key to the party’s victory, providing her support for a mass voice message to voters at the tail end of the campaign, for her three terms. Watts is now planning to run federally for the Conservatives in South Surrey-White Rock.
“Dianne Watts never met a good idea she didn’t like,” Hepner said, adding she looks forward to working with Watts when she is in Ottawa. “And by the way, I’ve got a little light rail project I want to talk to you about.”
Hepner listed her priorities in the years to come.
Her first order of business is to promote a “yes” vote in this spring’s transportation referendum.
She also plans to make good on her promise to hire another 100 police officers next year.
She will create a business advisory council to accelerate growth in the private sector.
She also wants to make Surrey one of the nation’s most “age-friendly” cities.
Hepner became emotional when she expressed how excited she was to begin working with the new team, returning Couns. Tom Gill, Judy Villeneuve, Barbara Steele, Mary Martin and Bruce Hayne, and newcomers to civic politics Couns. Vera LeFranc, Mike Starchuk and Dave Woods, reported Surrey Leader newspaper.
A brief council meeting was then convened to name the Surrey representatives of the Metro Vancouver board of directors. They are: Hepner, Villeneuve, Steele, Hayne and Martin.
Gill was appointed as alternate mayor.
