Mike Starchuk: Surrey Deserves A Mayor Who Matches Our Ambition — Not One Playing Catch-Up After Four Years Of Inaction

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, MAY 14, 2026, SURREY B.C. —  Imagine Surrey 2026 mayoral candidate Mike Starchuk responded today to Mayor Brenda Locke’s 2026 State of the City Address, calling out a record of tax spikes, cancelled homes, delayed infrastructure, and a deepening public safety crisis the Mayor herself described from the podium as “year three of an extortion crisis.” 

“Mayor Locke gave a long speech this afternoon. She told Surrey that ‘big things are happening.’ Surrey families look around and don’t see what those things are,” said Starchuk, former MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale. “What we see is a Mayor playing catch-up after four years of inaction. What we see is a vision that doesn’t match the city we are becoming — or the city we could be.” 

Starchuk pointed to four pieces of Mayor Locke’s own record: 

• Tax spikes that hit Surrey families already squeezed to pay for her petty fights. 
• Cancelled homes in a city that needs every one of them. 
• Delayed infrastructure that included, in her own words today, a Surrey Langley Skytrain that is “not really on schedule.” 
• A crisis in gun violence she now describes, from her own podium, as “year three of an extortion crisis” — and still refuses to respond appropriately. 

“That is not leadership. That is a poor record,” said Starchuk. “Surrey is the economic engine of this province. We will soon be the largest city in British Columbia. We deserve a mayor who matches the ambition of our people — not one who takes credit for a provincial medical school that required nothing from City Hall, while the projects she actually owns run late, sit conceptual, or stay on the drawing board.” 

“Brenda isn’t working for Surrey.” 

Starchuk drew a sharp contrast with the Imagine Surrey approach: Making Surrey the City of Champions with Safe Streets, Fast Commutes, Smart Investments, Lower Costs, and Strong Services. 

“Surrey’s potential is enormous. Our Mayor’s vision is not,” said Starchuk. “On October 17, Surrey can choose four more years of catching up — or a Mayor with the vision, ambition, and plan to match our potential.” 

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About Imagine Surrey 
Imagine Surrey is a civic party of experienced frontline workers, community advocates and professionals running a full slate in the October 17, 2026 Surrey municipal election to make Surrey the City of Champions. Led by Mike Starchuk, Imagine Surrey is committed to safe streets, fast commutes, smart investments, lower costs and strong services: change that works for you. 

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

Media Contact
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Mike Starchuk is available for interviews.