FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, October 16, 2026

SURREY, BC — Mike Starchuk is calling on every Surrey voter who wants change at City Hall to vote together on Saturday. New analysis from Pollara Strategic Insights, published today, finds that 58% of Surrey says it’s time for a change, but that the change vote is split three ways. Starchuk’s message to change voters: don’t split it. It’s time to unite behind Imagine Surrey.

Pollara’s analysis, pooled across three surveys between September 23 and October 14, describes a city that has made up its mind and a race that hasn’t caught up to it. Only 25% of Surrey wants the current leadership re-elected, and about two-thirds of that re-elect vote sits with Mayor Brenda Locke.

That split is the only reason Locke is ahead in two of the three surveys (and tied with Starchuk in the third). Pollara’s conclusion is that under first past the post a united minority can beat a divided majority, and that the question for Saturday is whether Surrey’s change voters come together behind a single candidate.

“Starchuk has the largest single share of Surrey’s change vote,” Pollara’s Matt Smith wrote today, noting that in one of the firm’s three surveys Starchuk was level with Locke.

The numbers match what Imagine Surrey has heard all campaign. The team has knocked on more than 60,000 doors across Surrey, and the message at the door has been consistent: people want change at City Hall, and they put it ahead of every other issue.

“Surrey has made up its mind. People want change, and now there’s a number on it,” said Starchuk. “What hasn’t been decided is whether change wins or splits. If the change vote goes three ways on Saturday, the status quo wins with a quarter of the vote. If it comes together, change wins. That’s the whole race now.”

“To everyone planning to vote for Linda Annis or Doug McCallum because you want something different at City Hall: I respect that, but look at the numbers,” Starchuk said. “Pollara says I have the largest share of the change vote and that I’ve already run even with the mayor. A vote for me and the Imagine Surrey team is the one that can actually get change over the line. Lend us your vote on Saturday, and let’s put out the fire at City Hall.”

Pollara also found that Surrey voters accept growth but doubt City Hall’s plan for it. Only 29% are confident the City has a clear plan to handle growth and new housing while keeping up infrastructure and services. Housing affordability sits in the top three issues for 57% of Surrey voters, and 71% put crime and public safety, or homelessness, mental health, and substance use, in their top three.

“People aren’t against growth. They’re against growth with no plan, and only 29% of Surrey believes City Hall has one,” said Starchuk. “The Contract for a Better Surrey is the plan: safe streets, fast commutes, smart investments, lower costs, and strong services, costed and signed. That’s what a united change vote gets this city on Saturday.”

The New Westminster and District Labour Council, Unifor, former Surrey MLAs and provincial cabinet ministers Bruce Ralston and Harry Bains, longtime Surrey Leader reporter Kevin Diakiw, and Young British Columbians for Better Governance have all endorsed Mike Starchuk for mayor. Young British Columbians for Better Governance also endorsed the full Imagine Surrey council slate.

General voting day is Saturday, October 17, 2026. The full Imagine Surrey team and the Contract for a Better Surrey are at imaginesurrey.ca.

What Pollara found in Surrey

• 58% of Surrey residents say it’s time for a change in municipal leadership, and 25% want the current leadership re-elected
• Starchuk holds the largest single share of the change vote and ran even with Locke in one of three surveys
• Only 29% of Surrey residents are confident the City has a clear plan to accommodate growth and new housing while maintaining infrastructure and services
• 57% put housing affordability and availability in their top three issues, and 29% rank it first
• 71% put crime and public safety, or homelessness, mental health, and substance use, in their top three
• Infrastructure for growth tops Surrey’s housing priorities at 46%

Source: Matt Smith, “Don’t Stand So Close to Me”, Pollara Strategic Insights, October 16, 2026. Pollara BC 2026 Election Syndicate: three online surveys from September 23 to October 14, 2026, pooled Surrey sample of 432, weighted. Pollara notes online panels can’t be assigned a margin of error.

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About Imagine Surrey

Imagine Surrey is a civic party running a full slate of candidates in the October 17, 2026 municipal election. Led by mayoral candidate Mike Starchuk – a former firefighter and Chief Fire Prevention Officer, former City Councillor, and former MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale – Imagine Surrey is committed to making Surrey the City of Champions by delivering: safe streets, fast commutes, smart investments, lower costs, and strong services.

Council candidates: Yousef Aldabainah-Barakat, Chandan Chahal, Perminder Chohan, Narima Dela Cruz, Ashiyana Hanif, William Li, Dr. Margaret Mubanda, and Kevin Wilkie.

Contact

Trevor Loke, Campaign Manager
604-838-5178
[email protected] / [email protected]