NDP MLA Jinny Sims is hoping for a political hat-trick after announcing her Surrey mayoral bid on Wednesday evening after having already been elected to the federal NDP MP and currently a provincial politician and hoping to create history if she is elected the civic “Big Mommy” as Surrey mayor. But the Godfather of Surrey politics Liberal MP Sukh Dhaliwal, who was dubbed the “Kingmaker” once by the Vancouver Sun after he single handedly controlled the nomination process, is hoping to stop Sims in her tracks as he did by beating her federally to reclaim his federal seat from her. Sims and Surrey Coun. Brenda Locke are the first announced challengers to McCallum in municipal elections set for Oct. 15.

By R. Paul Dhillon – Editor DESIBUZZCanada

SURREY – NDP MLA Jinny Sims is hoping for a political hat-trick after announcing her Surrey mayoral bid on Wednesday evening after having already been elected to the federal NDP MP and currently a provincial politician and hoping to create history if she is elected the civic “Big Mommy” as Surrey mayor.

But the Godfather of Surrey politics Liberal MP Sukh Dhaliwal, who was dubbed the “Kingmaker” once by the Vancouver Sun after he single handedly controlled the nomination process, is hoping to stop Sims in her tracks as he did by beating her federally to reclaim his federal seat from her. 

Dhaliwal is set to announce his candidacy any time now in what is expected to become a political Mela (festival) in Surrey to unseat one of the most unpopular mayors Surrey has ever seen in scandal-laden Doug McCallum in his final kick at the mayoral can.

A longtime teacher, labour leader and politician, Sims made her mayoral bid official with the newly formed municipal party Surrey Forward and the left-leaning party’s four declared council candidates, Ramon Bandong, Jim Bennett, June Liu and Theresa Pidcock.

Currently, the MLA for Surrey-Panorama, a seat she has held since 2017, Sims has also served as the NDP member of Parliament for the Newton-North Delta riding between 2011 and 2015.

Sims also worked as a high school teacher and was the president of the BC Teachers’ Federation between 2004 and 2007.

She says she will take an unpaid leave of absence from her legislature duties while she focuses on the mayoral bid.

Sims and her team did not make their policy statements clear at Wednesday’s launch and side-stepping issues of Surrey police transition and development but did focus on the obvious target – the divisive culture at city hall which has deepened in the months following McCallum’s criminal charge for mischief. 

“We have to stop talking polarization. What we have to get back to is bridge-building,” she said.

Both Dhaliwal and Sims have had their political troubles in the past with Dhaliwal facing some heat from accounting-business filing issues and Sims forced to resign over alleged money for visa issues.

In 2019 Sims resigned as the Minister of Citizens Services after misconduct allegations conducted to visa applications were made against her.

In 2020, a special prosecutor reported he and the RCMP found no evidence to support the charges against her and cleared her of wrongdoing.

Even following the 2020 provincial election, Sims was never returned to Premier John Horgan’s cabinet.

While Sims was cleared of wrongdoing, McCallum is still waiting for his day in court for his fictional running over his foot incident.

Global News recently reported that after their court challenge, a judge removed the seal on a sworn document, called information to obtain or ITO regarding McCallum’s case.

The document describes McCallum was “not pinned” against a vehicle, counter to his public claims following a Sept. 4, 2021 incident at a South Surrey grocery store.

McCallum will not appear before the courts until after the Oct. 15 election.

Sims and Surrey Coun. Brenda Locke are the first announced challengers to McCallum in municipal elections set for Oct. 15.