DESIBUZZCanada EXCLUSIVE: While the new  poll conducted by Pollara found Surrey residents would choose former Surrey mayor Dianne Watts over Mayor Doug McCallum on a ballot by more than two-to-one margin, it also revealed that Liberal MP Sukh Dhaliwal tied with McCallum for support. Watts, who served as the city’s mayor for three terms, has said she is unlikely to return to civic politics but rumour mills are ripe that former councilor Tom Gill is interested in returning to Surrey politics as a council candidate and that Surrey First may unite under Bruce Haynes or another mayoral candidate to make a comeback. Given the poll numbers for Dhaliwal and the large South Asian support he commands in Surrey, would Surrey First look to him to lead them in the next election.

By R. Paul Dhillon – Editor-Founder DESIBUZZCanada

SURREY – While former Surrey mayor Dianne Watts topped a recent civic poll, the most interesting find was that Liberal MP Sukh Dhaliwal tied in support with the current unpopular mayor Doug McCallum, aka Doug Paaji who only seems to have support in the local South Asian community.

According to the poll by Pollara Strategic Insights, Watts led comfortably with 53 percent city wide support while McCallum had less than half at 23 percent support. But the most surprising thing was that Dhaliwal, who has been active in all political levels including provincial and civic, tied McCallum with 23 percent support. 

Current councilor Jack Hundal, who has not been shy about his mayoral ambitions, followed with 20 percent support followed by councilors Laurie Guerra and Doug Elford, both at 12 percent.

There is little doubt that other than small pockets of support in the South Asian community, McCallum has lost support Surrey wide and has very little chance at reelection. On the other hand, Dhaliwal is a dominant figure from the large South Asian community in Surrey and is poised to widen his support if he decides to enter civic politics as a mayoral candidate.

“With the current council in chaos and divided, there isn’t a bright future for Doug McCallum and his team in Surrey so there’s an opportunity for new players in two years,” said one political observer.

 “Sukh Dhaliwal can be that player and he knows Surrey civic politics very well. He can be a competitive Surrey-wide mayoral candidate and perhaps now the wider community is willing to accept a South Asian mayor which would be a historical high point for the community and its deep roots in the city,” said the political observer. 

Watts recently said  that while she hasn’t ruled it out but she doesn’t see herself returning to civic politics any time soon.

“I don’t have any plans at this point in time of running for mayor. But you know, over the years, I’ve learned never say never,” Watts told Postmedia when the poll came out.

While Watts, who served as the city’s mayor for three terms, is unlikely to return to civic politics but rumour mills are ripe that former councilor Tom Gill is interested in returning to Surrey politics as a council candidate and that Surrey First may unite under Bruce Haynes or another mayoral candidate to make a comeback.

Given the poll numbers for Dhaliwal and the large South Asian support he commands in Surrey, would Surrey First look to him to lead them in the next election.

While Dhaliwal is currently serving Trudeau’s minority government and has been regularly bypassed for cabinet posts, it is a possibility that he may consider running for Surrey mayor. Sources close to Dhaliwal told DESIBUZZCanada that Dhaliwal has considered this possibility but that it’s hard to say what the political future holds for the man the media once labeled “The Kingmaker” as he single handedly controlled the civic party’s nomination process years ago. 

Watts told Postmedia she is flattered that her name was included in the poll.

“I think where the difference in percentage comes from is that I have always been a big proponent of consultation on issues, and just making sure that the general public is engaged, so they know what’s going on,” she told Postmedia. “I certainly know through speaking to many people in my daily life that there is now a feeling out there that there’s no openness and transparency on issues, that the general public has been shut out.”

Watts was particularly popular with those over the age of 55 (71 per cent), and the majority (55 per cent) of respondents age 35 to 54 said they would vote for her. A majority of both males and females said they would prefer Watts. She also had the edge with the South-Asian community — 48 per cent said they would vote for Watts over McCallum (36 per cent). McCallum has more support among voters age 18 to 34, with 42 per cent favouring him.

Hundial, who left McCallum’s Safe Surrey Coalition last year, wasn’t surprised by the poll results.

“I think she would make a better leader than McCallum, first of all, and that’s been demonstrated in their track records,” Hundial told Postmedia. “There’s certainly more voter confidence with good leadership, proven leadership.”