SURREY — A group of independent Surrey school trustee candidates have come together to form a new team ahead of the upcoming civic election.
Comprising of incumbent trustee Charlene Dobie, Rayman Bhuller, Patricia Enair, Niovi Patsicakis, Kristy Peterson and Sara Sharma, the party will be known as the Surrey Progressives.
Enair approached the group before the nominations to talk about working together as a group of five, said Dobie.
"We thought, 'well, we might as go for a full team (of six)' and so Rayman came on board after that. It sort of grew from three of us starting off together and we went from there."
While the team has their name set, they will not appear on the ballot as the Surrey Progressives since the group was formed after the submission deadline for nominations.
Dobie is an incumbent trustee who was elected in 2011 as part of the Surrey Civic Coalition. Enair has been involved in the Surrey District Parents Advisory Council as well her child’s PAC over the past eight years. Patsicakis is a long-term educator. Peterson is a first-time candidate with daughters currently attending a French Immersion school in Surrey and Sharma is a local realtor and owner of Little Newton Daycare.
“If we want children to excel academically they must have social and emotional supports and a sense of belonging in their school,†said Patsicakis. “We need to protect and strengthen the role of trustees.â€
The Surrey Progressives are having an open house on Saturday (Oct. 25) from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 8097 134 St., Surrey.
The only other party running in the trustee race is Surrey First Education.