Former MLA Mike Starchuk launches bid for Surrey mayor, pledging professionalism, public safety, and stronger ties with the provincial government.
Former MLA Mike Starchuk Launches Mayoral Bid
After more than a decade of political ambition, Mike Starchuk is officially running for mayor of Surrey in the 2026 civic election. The former Surrey-Cloverdale NDP MLA and city councillor believes he can steer the city better than the current leadership.
“I’m pretty sure I can do better,” Starchuk said bluntly during a recent interview, taking aim at his main rivals, Mayor Brenda Locke and Councillor Linda Annis.
From Firefighter to City Hall Veteran
Starchuk’s career has spanned frontline service and municipal politics. Before entering public office, he served as a firefighter and chief fire prevention officer in Surrey. In 2014, he became a city councillor, later representing Surrey-Cloverdale as an MLA from 2020 to 2024. He lost his seat to Conservative MLA Elenore Sturko in the last provincial election.
“His decades on the frontlines have given him firsthand insight into what Surrey needs to feel safe, supported, and heard,” according to his campaign biography.
Running on Experience and Professionalism
Starchuk has long dreamed of becoming mayor. Over a decade ago, he even registered MikeForMayor.ca in preparation for this moment. Now, he says, 2026 is the right time.
At his campaign launch under the banner Imagine Surrey, Starchuk promised that his team is the most qualified to lead the city. “You need a professional mayor, not a petty mayor,” he said.
Key Priorities: Safety, Housing, Traffic
The candidate’s top three priorities—crime and public safety, housing affordability, and traffic congestion—mirror those of his competitors. But Starchuk emphasizes a different approach to public safety.
Rather than setting arbitrary targets for hiring police officers, he plans to listen to experts on the ground. “Public safety professionals should guide us on what’s actually needed,” he said, pointing to ongoing extortion-related shootings and other city crises.
Criticism of Current Leadership
Starchuk is critical of how Surrey has been managed in recent years. “I shook my head daily at council decisions,” he said. He blamed stalled projects, such as affordable housing for seniors and road expansions, on political squabbles rather than practical governance.
He also argues that Mayor Locke’s attempts to stop the municipal police transition cost the city valuable time and money. Instead, Starchuk says residents need a mayor with strong provincial connections. “I have a direct line to Premier David Eby and the current government—something the other candidates don’t,” he noted.
A Campaign Built on Action
In every statement, Starchuk highlights his work ethic and readiness to tackle the city’s challenges. “The city needs a professional who gets results, not someone caught in petty fights,” he said. Surrey voters will see if his combination of experience, provincial connections, and frontline knowledge is enough to secure the mayoral seat this fall.
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