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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2010
POLITICAL PREDICTION:
WATTS WILL GO FOR IT Surrey mayor will take a shot at premier’s job, despite what she says or doesn’t say. Here’s why.
C
ry “Havoc!” and let slip the dogs of rumour and speculation. Premier Gordon Campbell made a polTed itical ghost of himself COLLEY Wednesday when he announced his intention to step down as soon as the Liberals choose a new leader. He also set journalists to work poking around in the entrails, trying to divine who will succeed the Fallen One. More than one pundit’s list begins with Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts. Watts was first elected mayor in 2005 with a huge majority and dominated the polls again in 2008. Two-thirds of the way through her second term, Watts is still hugely popular with voters. She has tamed what was once a hostile city council and created Surrey First, a diverse slate of councillors that holds seven of nine seats. While other municipalities have suffered from the recession, it’s been business as usual in Surrey as thousands take up residence here every year and investment continues apace. The question is this: Can Watts translate her record in Surrey into a successful bid to replace Campbell and lead the province? She has a lot going for her. She has
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made great strides in taking the perception of Surrey to a better place. Watts has always bridled at Surrey jokes. In her mind, the city always deserved more respect and under her leadership, Surrey’s getting it. Watts and her council have also made good progress in crime reduction and working with non-profit agencies to mend holes in the city’s social fabric. Watts’ success is largely due to her ability to meld a strong sense of social justice with the pragmatism of a hardnosed businesswoman and a strong will. Watts is no powder puff; push her and she pushes back. Ask Doug McCallum. Watts also has a talent for surrounding herself with adept advisors, people who can get things done. So, Watts has a good resumé, a high profile and broad appeal for voters. She’s also viewed as an outsider, not a Campbell loyalist, and that can’t hurt. And unlike most of the other contenders (Kevin Falcon comes to mind), Watts cannot be tarred with the HST brush – she has criticized the tax as wrongheaded – and that’s the cherry on top of the cake. Could she move up? Yes. The better question might be: Does she want to? I’ve asked Watts several times over the past year or so if she has any immediate plans to move up to provincial politics. Each time, she has downplayed the notion, saying there’s still work to be done in Surrey. That’s true, but there’s work to be done in Victoria, too. And even as Watts has pooh-poohed the idea of reaching higher, when I think about our conversations, she has never ruled it out altogether. I think Watts is too canny a politician to paint herself into that particular corner. A smart politician
always leaves herself a way out, room to change course. Campbell says he’ll continue as premier until the party chooses a new leader, sometime next year. That would mean Watts could resign from city council and take her shot without causing an expensive civic byelection.
“I’ve asked Watts several times over the past year or so if she has any immediate plans to move up to provincial politics. Each time, she has downplayed the notion, saying there’s still work to be done in Surrey. That’s true, but there’s work to be done in Victoria, too.” A popular leader like Watts, with her ability to create consensus, could turn the Liberals’ fortunes around. The NDP is essentially winning by default right now, but Watts could change all that. A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a column advising Watts to ignore Victoria and stick with Surrey. I still believe that’s the way to go, but I won’t be making the decision. What will Dianne Watts do? I think she’s going to take her shot. Ted Colley is a reporter and columnist with the Now. He can be reached at tcolley@thenownewspaper.com See QUITE A CHARACTER, page 3 See WHO WILL LEAD?, page 3