Thursday, November 13, 2014

Why I support Barinder Rasode for Mayor in Surrey

Bill Tieleman talks to Barinder Rasode in Surrey earlier this year
Last month I endorsed my friend Barinder Rasode for Mayor of Surrey - and with the election upon us, I'm taking the opportunity to say so again - but here:

“I have known Barinder Rasode for many years - and about her commitment to help all Surrey residents with challenging issues of crime, public transit and transportation, managing city expenditures wisely and making decisions openly.

So I am very pleased to endorse Barinder as the best choice for mayor of Surrey - to improve safety, transit and accountability to City Hall.”

Barinder has a background in the labour movement - I first met her when she worked for the Canadian Labour Congress - and takes a progressive approach to politics, something recognized when former Surrey Mayor Bob Bose endorsed her.

But Barinder is a "big tent" coalition person and has reached across some traditional divides to work on issues of common cause with people of different political persuasions.  That can be particularly useful in city politics.

I am also impressed with the team of candidates Barinder has brought together in her One Surrey campaign - I hope they do well on Saturday November 15.

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6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Surrey isn't all that concerned with who has a bckground in the labour movement.

Consider the value of Bill's endorsement. Bill is NDP. So is Barinder Rasode. She was Constituency Assistant to Penny Priddy. That post doesn't go to just any Mary Sixpack. It goes to whomever knows their way around the NDP.

Barinder is getting support from NDP boy Moe Sihota, plus MLAs Sue Hammel, and Harry Bains. Plus MP Jinny Sims.

No surprise there.

If you vote for Barisode you're voting NDP.

Surrey deserves a lot better than another way in for the NDP that will just benefit the NDP and no one else.

Do these endorsements really mean anything to Joe and Mary Sixpack from Fleetwood? No.

It's more ego on part of the person giving the endorsement than anything else. Right Bill? Right??

Anonymous said...

She didn't make it. Not even close.

Anonymous said...

The first anonymous forgot to mention that Ms Rasode had as her campaign manager Clark's ex..... what does this tell you?? Is Rasode a political opportunist or did Clark owe her a few favours? Would love to know the "real" deal that produced the unlikely pairing or Sihota and Marrisen... perhaps Bill can explain it all.

Anonymous said...

"The first anonymous forgot to mention that Ms Rasode had as her campaign manager Clark's ex..... what does this tell you??"

You forgot to mention Bruce Clark, Christy's scheming brother. He also helped Barinder.

Is Rasode a political opportunist or did Clark owe her a few favours? Would love to know the "real" deal that produced the unlikely pairing or Sihota and Marrisen... perhaps Bill can explain it all.

Bill can, but he won't. NDPers do not rag on each other. It is an unwritten rule that one does not speak bad words against one's NDP brothers and sisters.

It just isn't done.

Bill Tieleman said...

Anon yesterday and today asked me to explain the "deal" that got Mark Marissen and Moe Sihota on the same side in Surrey. I am not aware of any "deal" but they both crossed traditional party lines provincially to work together municipally. That happens a lot and does in Vision Vancouver too - I have spoken to Mark at Vision events and know several other BC Liberal/federal Liberal supporters who back Vision. Same thing happens at the NPA - federal Conservatives working with federal Liberals they normally oppose. Civic elections are different - that's the simple explanation, no conspiracy.

Anonymous said...

There was a big reason for it and it was not the concept to try and stop Dianne Watts or Surrey First.

C'mon Bill you can do better than that.

None of them live in Surrey.

There's not much distance between Conservatives and Liberals as there is between NDP and Liberals.

There were federal Liberals within Surrey First, too.

A good guess is that both Sihota and Marissen wanted lists and resources to possibly use in the federal election. Consider Sukh Dhaliwal is wanting to run in Surrey Newton where NDP's Jinny Sims is now.

Will be interesting to see if Barinder tried for Surrey Newton
or perhaps as a Liberal, Surrey Centre or even Surrey White Rock.

It was not to earn additional points in politics.

They were both there for a reason
and it was not to snack on somosas at the campaign office together.