A former mayor and Surrey councillor is backing Barinder Rasode in her bid to become mayor.
Bob Bose, who served on Surrey council for 28 years, said until recently, he was waiting for a dark horse candidate to come forward and run for mayor.
That candidacy didn’t materialize.
Bose is now saying he will back Rasode, who has not yet officially declared her intention to run for the centre chair, but told The Leader in April she will run for mayor.
Bose said he’s drawn to Rasode’s position on wards.
Even though mayoral candidate Doug McCallum made wards part of his platform, Bose questions his sincerity.
Bose pushed for wards for some time, and says he only got support from Couns. Judy Villeneuve and Rasode.
McCallum, Bose said, opposed the idea.
Bose also likes how Rasode has been working with the community.
“She’s the one member of council that’s made a concerted effort to network with community,” Bose said. “And that’s constant with the idea of advancing the ward system.”
Rasode said getting the support of Bose is “huge” for her.
“It’s not only big news, I cannot express how happy and proud I am that he would lend his name to mine,” Rasode said. “It means a lot.”
Bose is also planning to support his nephew Mike Bose, who has declared he will run for council this November.
“He’d be a good council member, he’s got a fire in his belly,” Bose said.
As to the possibility of running for council again himself, Bose says he’s ruled that out.
“I absolutely would not, I’m into another phase of my life and it doesn’t include going backwards,” Bose said.
The election will be held Nov. 15.
Political watchers believe campaigns will ramp up as September begins.