Dianne Watts
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Mayor of Surrey, British Columbia
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Incumbent | |
Assumed office 2005 |
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Preceded by | Doug McCallum |
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Political party | Independent |
Spouse | Brian Watts |
Children | two daughters |
Residence | Surrey, British Columbia |
Profession | businessperson |
Dianne Watts is the mayor of Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, elected in 2005 as the city's first female mayor.[1]
She ran as an independent candidate, defeating incumbent Doug McCallum, who had been her political ally as recently as 2003.[2] When she announced her intent to challenge McCallum, she claimed that a "culture of control and conflict has developed at city hall under Doug McCallum" and promised "better co-operation between the city and senior governments to bring more social services into Surrey to deal with homelessness, drug use and crime".[3]
Her election affected regional politics as well, since she replaced McCallum on the board of the Greater Vancouver Regional District.[4]
Before becoming mayor she had served on the Surrey City Council since her election in 1996.[5]