Surinderpal Rathor launches Williams Lake Mayor re-election bid

Editor's Note -- I was personally disappointed during Williams Lake Mayor Surinderpal Rathor's comments to supporters during his re-election campaign launch yesterday when he took a personal shot at the Cariboo Regional District referencing the 2024 BCGEU strike while noting the same did not occur for recent City of Williams Lake labour negotiations, despite the fact the City of Williams Lake IS a member of the Cariboo Regional District -- a poor choice of words used and should have done better...

Also: referencing the reduction in the cost share arrangement between Province of BC/Cariboo-Chilcotin Regional Hospital District for the Cariboo Memorial Hospital Redevelopment Project and claiming personal responsibility for it *is* a complete personal letdown...

To be perfectly clear: the Cariboo Memorial Hospital Redevelopment Project is a cost shared project between the *entire* Cariboo-Chilcotin Regional Hospital District and Province of BC (through Interior Health) and any discussions between Province of BC/Cariboo-Chilcotin Regional Hospital District on cost sharing reductions regarding the CMH Redevelopment Project would be advanced by the Chair of the Cariboo-Chilcotin Regional Hospital District (on behalf of the local RHD Board) - currently Al Richmond - however Mayor Rathor (on behalf of the City of Williams Lake) would be part of those discussions however he (Rathor) would not lead those discussions (and that would be the same for any hospital capital cost-shared projects in either Quesnel/100 Mile House -- Chair Richmond would lead those hospital capital cost-share discussions with the Province of BC on behalf of the CCRHD Board but with support of the local Mayors) 

But having said the above -- I wish Mayor Rathor the best in his upcoming re-election campaign... 

~SF

In front of campaign supporters of nearly 20+ people -- incumbent Williams Lake Mayor Surinderpal Rathor launched his re-election campaign in his backyard...

Those in attendance (elected officials or those running for Williams Lake Council) included: 

* Cariboo RD Area "D" Director Steve Forseth

* Williams Lake Councillor Micheal Moses 

* Williams Lake Councillor candidates Billie Sheridan and Dr. Rafiullah Sahibzada

After hot dogs/burgers and supporters having conversations with each other -- Williams Lake Mayor Surinderpal Rathor addressed his supporters about the actions of himself/Williams Lake City Council for Williams Lake during the 2022-2026 term and why he believed that he was worthy of re-election...

As of this writing -- Surinderpal Rathor is the only publicly declared candidate for Mayor of Williams Lake for the 2026-2030 elected term

The formal candidate nomination period commences this coming Tuesday, September 1st, 2026 at 9am and concludes at 4pm sharp on Friday, September 11, 2026 (excluding Saturday - Sunday - Monday September 5-7, 2026 due to Labour Day Long Weekend)