Hear ye! Hear ye! It’s that time again, folks! B.C.’s local general elections are gearing up for another exciting season. What’s a local general election, you may be asking? A local general election is a municipally managed electoral process that determines who the local leaders will be, most notably mayors, councillors, and school district trustees. These fun events are held every four years on the third Saturday in October, just in time for spooky season!
Advance polls open on Oct. 7 and official Election Day is Oct. 17. Either way, get ahead of the game by checking out the local folks running for office.
Being a Fraser Valley-based paper, The Cascade has done the digging on the mayoral candidates for the three surrounding districts of Mission, Abbotsford, and Chilliwack.
Chilliwack has a leg up in this race, with four candidates in the running.
First is Jason Lum, a father and small-business owner who’s served on Chilliwack City Council for 15 years. He’s running on a “Growing Forward Together” platform that includes addressing issues of affordability, safety, recovery and treatment options, and infrastructure. Lum doesn’t want fear to dictate decisions or “outside partisan politics turning City Hall into another political battleground.”
Next up is Gary Raddysh, a former high school teacher. Fraser Valley Today called him an “anti-tax crusader” in 2023, after he stated opposition to a significant property tax increase proposed by the city at a council meeting. Very little information can be found about Raddysh other than a second hand account of the concerns he raised at a meeting in 2024. According to the account, Raddysh expressed frustration over low voter turnout and its impact on the democratic process, especially concerning the council’s financial decisions.
On to Martina Rosini. This Conservative candidate prioritizes cutting taxes, being tough on crime, funding first responders, and putting families at the heart of decision making. She also calls for a Veterans crosswalk in Chilliwack and an end to bike lanes. Rosini has spent her entire career working in politics and highlighted “conservative values and common sense” as her advocacy goals.
Finally, we have Farooque Syed. Independent reporter Paul Henderson interviewed Syed, a former gangster, about his life growing up in Vancouver, recovering from a life of drugs and gangs, and finally writing a book about it to help kids stay out of the same trouble. Currently, no campaign information could be found out about Syed at present.
Congrats to Mission’s new Mayor, Jag Gill, who was declared the winner of the mayoral election by default over the weekend after rival candidate Kenny Braich dropped out of the running.
Jag Gill is the youngest ever mayor of Mission at 31 years old and previously sat as a city councillor. He’s stated that he wants to prioritize small businesses, growth tied to infrastructure, transparency, and wants to make “decisions based on what’s best for the community, not politics.” Gill has proven himself popular, earning the most council votes in both the 2018 and 2022 elections.
Abbotsford has four candidates to choose from as well.
First we have UFV Alumnus Sukhi Dhami. Dhami was raised on a family farm in Abbotsford, and now works in commercial and agricultural real estate. He advocates on “A Plan to Catch Up,” and cited the importance of people before policy, with a focus on affordability, a strong business climate, amenities, and a “vibrant local economy.”
That takes us to Paul Mahil. Mahil stated in a social media video that it was “time to put a farmer back into city hall.” He stated that he’s tired of “corruption” and “closed door deals.” Mahil has an extensive platform listed on his website that includes addressing homelessness, generating city revenue, halting increases on property taxes, bettering cross-border flood prevention and management, and increasing recreational facilities. His unique calls to action include better truck parking, an increase in transparency, and the preservation and revitalization of farmland.
David Pellikaan, is campaigning on the slogan: “Ask not what you can do for your city, but what your mayor can do for you!” His campaign Facebook page states that his commitment includes a promise to homeowners that “there will be no tax increase next year, 500$ rebate sent back to you due to rising inflation and the cost the mayor & council put on you.” His priorities include a forensic audit of the city, a change in chief of police, a family-oriented community, and a reinvestment in social housing and addiction services.
Lastly, is the current Mayor, Ross Siemens, who has been mayor since 2022, having previously served as city councillor from 2015-2025, and sat on the District of Abbotsford Council from 1986 to 1990. He’s a business-oriented candidate, listing small businesses and the local economy as priorities. According to The News, his previous work as mayor includes securing investment in the Barrowtown Pump Station, and “up to $25.6 million through the federal Housing Accelerator Fund and additional funding for transportation, infrastructure, housing, homelessness services and flood recovery.” His profile on the City of Abbotsford website lists one of his passions as refugee relief work.
Best of luck, cheery candidates!
For a full list of councillors and trustees, you can visit the Elections BC website or go directly on your city’s website. As for voting, the Government of BC has all the information that you will need, even a handy voter’s guide that walks you through the whole process. Happy voting!
