SURREY — Former mayor and councillor Bob Bose isn't planning to run for Surrey council this time around, but another member of the prominent pioneer family is jumping into the race.
Mike Bose, Bob's nephew, told the Now he will be running as an independent for a seat at the council table in the upcoming election.
"There are going to be vacancies. I have a lot of experience. Our family is the living history of Surrey, so I know where we've come from which should help guide us to the future. I don't think you can lose history," Mike said last Friday.
He noted that running for council in Surrey is "kind of a family tradition" for the Bose family.
His great-grandfather was mayor and his uncle Bob served as a Surrey alderman from 1978 to 1985, subsequently serving as Surrey's mayor for nine years, from 1988 to 1996. After his mayoralty, Bob returned to Surrey civic politics as a councillor, from 2000 to 2011, when he was ousted after Surrey First swept all the seats.
Mike hopes to carry on the tradition in Surrey civic politics.
For the last 14 years, Mike has run the Bose Corn Maze in Cloverdale with his wife and two sons.
"I'm a fourth-generation farmer. I run my dad's farm. It's all I've ever done for a job," he said, but added that for more than 25 years, he's volunteered on a variety of city hall committees.
"I've spent at least 16 years on the agricultural advisory committee. In fact, I was the creator of that committee."
And he spent more than four years as a commissioner with the Agricultural Land Commission.
His background also includes more than 20 years as a hockey coach in Cloverdale and sitting on the board of the Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation.
Currently, he's a director of Surrey Cares, formerly the Surrey Foundation.
When it comes to agricultural lands in Surrey, Mike says if elected, he'll fight to protect and enhance the industry.
"The ALR (Agricultural Land Reserve) is one-third of the city. It's some of the best agricultural land in the country. It's underutilized, underappreciated and it has the potential to create jobs."
Asked if his politics differ than that of his uncle Bob, he said they do - seeing as Bob is a member of the NDP party and he's not - but added, "I think one place that we would agree very strongly is in a balanced approach to development."
Mike hopes to bring an "independent voice" to council, which he said is needed to yield "good, honest debate on the issues," stating he's not a fan of slate politics.