Chilliwack, BC 2026 Municipal Election Candidates

Jason Lum

• Responsible growth & infrastructure: Manage growth responsibly and invest in the infrastructure the community needs without losing Chilliwack's character and sense of community — 'It can do both'
• Public safety: Public safety among core priorities; navigated public safety, flooding, evacuations and emergency response over 15 years in office; emphasis on showing up in crises and communicating clearly
• Affordability & economic opportunity: Affordability, economic opportunity and strong neighbourhoods listed among platform priorities; accountable council that stays engaged with residents

Lean assessment: Running explicitly as an Independent ('partisan politics left at the door'); long incumbent record of collaborative, listen-first governance and work across the political spectrum; no partisan affiliation or ideological platform markers.

Gary Raddysh

• Direct democracy / citizen-led government: Convert council into a voter-driven, citizen-led government where council only acts on issues where a democratic majority of voters (50%+1) has participated; decisions 'owned by all voters' rather than eight or nine elected officials
• Voter participation tools: Use the 'Engage Chilliwack' app for quick-order polling of the community so every voter can participate in every council decision; city hall to serve as a research team providing unbiased information and hosting open-discussion forums
• Property taxes / spending restraint: Longstanding advocate for a zero per cent property tax increase and a freeze on taxes and new spending unless backed by a majority of citizens

Martina Rosini

• Property taxes: Campaigning on a 10% property tax cut; attacked opponent Jason Lum for votes totalling 26% in property tax increases since 2022, said to cost the average household $560 more per year
• Public safety / drug policy: Opposes low-barrier BC Housing drug sites and the NDP safe-supply approach; pledges stronger funding and support for police and first responders; promises to 'stand up to Victoria and BC Housing' when provincial drug-site policies put neighbourhoods at risk
• Affordability / local business: 'Lower Taxes. Safer Streets. Families First' — pledges to cut taxes, back local businesses, and put family safety first; 'common sense' conservative values platform

Lean assessment: Official Conservative Electors Association candidate with career in conservative government offices, endorsed by Peter MacKay; platform of tax cuts, law-and-order policing, opposition to safe supply/BC Housing drug sites — classic right-wing municipal positioning.

Farooque Syed

• Gangs, drugs & youth violence prevention: Core public identity is anti-gang advocacy — mission to ensure 'not a single kid follows the dangerous and reckless path' he went down; prevention through education and keeping youth away from gangs, drugs and violence
• Public safety: No detailed mayoral platform published as of early October 2026; public-safety framing is implied through his anti-gang/anti-drug advocacy rather than a stated policy platform