Tom Gill , is Surrey First’s candidate for mayor

Four-term Surrey city councillor Tom Gill has been chosen as Surrey First’s mayoral candidate for the Oct. 20 municipal election. Outgoing Mayor Linda Hepner, who announced in April that she would not be seeking re-election, made the announcement on Friday.“Tom’s experience and commitment to our city makes him a tremendous choice to be Surrey’s next mayor,” said Hepner. “Tom knows Surrey so well, and he understands what needs to be done in the busy years ahead to make sure we remain a great place to live, work and raise a family. Tom will make a terrific mayor and be a strong, decisive and level-headed voice for our community at the regional, provincial and federal levels.” An accountant, Gill currently chairs the city’s finance and transportation committees. He also sits on the police committee and was a founding director of the Surrey Homelessness and Housing Society. “Our city has a great story to tell and I’m looking forward to leading our Surrey First team so that we can continue building an even better Surrey in the years ahead,” he said. Gill’s announcement comes one day after Bruce Hayne, a two-term Surrey First councillor, revealed he was resigning from the civic party and will sit an independent. Gill said he was looking forward to running on a slate that included some new candidates. “This election is a chance to refresh and renew our Surrey First team,” said Gill. “We take nothing for granted, and that means reaching out into our community with some new faces, some new voices, and more ways to make Surrey a great city for all of us.” On Thursday, former provincial cabinet minister and sitting Liberal MLA for Langley East Rich Coleman told Postmedia columnist Mike Smyth he’s been heavily courted to seek the Surrey mayor’s job and he’s not ruling it out.“I have meetings set up this week and there are a lot of things to consider,” said Coleman said. “There are a lot of factors after doing this for 22 years.” Coleman is expected to make a decision on his future next week during a meeting with the Liberal Party caucus.