Doug McCallum, Mayor of Surrey candidacy announced

Former Surrey mayor Doug McCallum will run for a fourth term of Mayor of Surrey.

McCallum's intention to stand was inadvertently leaked in advance of a news conference scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday, when a campaign landing page surfaced online, including four policy points as well as dedicated Facebook and Twitter accounts.

In a press release sent just before the news conference was set to begin, McCallum identified his priorities as: crime, fiscal responsibility, transit and electoral reform.

"With such rapid growth, Surrey requires decisive leadership to tackle some very difficult issues," McCallum says in the release. "People are feeling unsafe in their neighbourhoods, spending and debt is out of control, transit services are severely lacking, and a ward system that would help cultural and regional representation on City Council has never been seriously considered. The time for action is now."

McCallum served three terms in the job previously, losing in 2005 to current Mayor Dianne Watts. His bid later that year to stand for the federal Conservatives in the Newton-North Delta riding was thwarted when he failed to file his nomination papers on time.