Veteran local politician Judy Higginbotham has been confirmed as Liberal Party of Canada candidate for South Surrey-White Rock in the Oct. 19 federal election.
She replaces Joy Davies, who resigned last week, following controversy over pro-marijuana views she expressed in Facebook posts.
Higginbotham’s candidacy was unanimously endorsed by the South Surrey-White Rock Liberal Electoral District Association on Tuesday, according to president Ginny Hasselfield.
A member of Surrey city council for 25 years, she served on more than 40 committees, and received many accolades, including Business Woman of the Year and the Solicitor General’s Crime Prevention Award.
Also a past provincial candidate, she bowed out of municipal politics for runs at federal office for the Liberals in 1988, 2004 and 2008, but returned for a run as an independent council candidate in 2011.
In the 2004 federal race, Higginbotham was the closest competitor to winning Conservative candidate Russ Hiebert, finishing 3,000 votes behind him.
In a press release announcing her candidacy she said a Liberal commitment to $60 billion in infrastructure funding will make Surrey light rail possible, adding that the party has also pledged to boost youth jobs, enhance Canada’s Pension Plan, provide help for low-income seniors, and cut taxes for the middle class.