Rathor vs. Cobb for Williams Lake Mayor - Round 2

Surinderpal Rathor(L) and Walt Cobb (R)

In a repeat of the 2018 Williams Lake Mayoral Election -- it will be -- subject to a candidate withdrawing by Friday, September 18th, 2026 -- Surinderpal Rathor vs Walt Cobb for the top political job (Mayor) in Williams Lake during the October 2026 City of Williams Lake Local General Election

In the 2018 Local General Election -- Walt Cobb beat Surinderpal Rathor by a vote count of 1,843 (Cobb) to 1,177 (Rathor) however in the subsequent Local General Election in 2022: Surinderpal Rathor came out on top with 1,091 votes with Cobb finishing in 3rd with 773 votes...

While this is Surinderpal Rathor's first term as Williams Lake Mayor -- Walt Cobb has previously served as Mayor of Williams Lake from 1990-1996 and 2014-2022 (14 years in total as Williams Lake Mayor vs 4 years for Rathor)

Walt Cobb talks with the Williams Lake Tribune about his reasons why he wants to become Mayor of Williams Lake again --

https://shrlnk.ca/s/105Wxy5C

While current Williams Lake Mayor Surinderpal Rathor explains to "My Cariboo Now" why he is looking for a 2nd consecutive term as Mayor of Williams Lake --

https://shrlnk.ca/s/dzBld90z

Advanced Voting for 1 Williams Lake Mayor/6 Williams Lake City Councillors' will occur on October 7/14, 2026 with General Voting Day set for Saturday, October 17th, 2026

More details are available on the City of Williams Lake website at https://www.williamslake.ca/562/Election-2026

Meanwhile in other Mayor Races in the Cariboo-Chilcotin: 

Wells - Rocky Nenka vs Jillian Merrick 

Quesnel - Ron Paull (Incumbent) vs Coralee Oakes vs Brian Waters 

100 Mile House - Maureen Pinkney (incumbent) vs David Jurek 

2026 Unofficial Candidate List - City of Williams Lake

Courtesy of the City of Williams Lake:

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) 

Williams Lake City Councillor Micheal Moses to seek re-election in October

Yesterday (August 11, 2026) -- current 1st term Williams Lake City Councillor Micheal Moses announced his plans to seek re-election to Williams Lake City Council this October 

Statement from his campaign manager, Thomas Schoen (who is a Cariboo RD Area "D" resident): 

"We're proud to officially launch Michael Moses campaign for re-election to Williams Lake City Council in the 2026 Municipal Election. I have the pleasure to manage Michael's campaign, once again.

Michael states: "You gave me the opportunity to serve our community (of Williams Lake). Since then, I've worked hard to build relationships, bring people together and make sure Williams Lake has a strong voice at the regional, provincial and national tables. We've made progress on community safety, housing, health care, infrastructure, reconciliation and strengthening relationships with local and neighbouring First Nations. I've learned a great deal during my first term and I am proud of what we have accomplished here together. But there is still much important work ahead

Thomas goes on to say: "This campaign will be about experience, relationships, collaboration and getting things done for our Williams Lake: Re-elect Michael Moses to Williams Lake City Council - October 17, 2026"

Dr. Rafiullah Sahibzada to run for Williams Lake City Council this October!

Dr. Rafiullah Sahibzada, a resident of Williams Lake, told the Williams Lake Tribune last week of his intention to run for Williams Lake City Council this October - more here

Billie Sheridan has previously announced her intention to seek election to Williams Lake City Council this October.  

Incumbent Williams Lake City Councillors Jazmyn Lyons, Angie Delainey and Joan Flaspohler have publicly announced that they won't seek re-election in October while Scott Nelson, Sheila Boehm and Micheal Moses have yet to state if they plan to seek re-election but are expected to state their intentions in the next few weeks... 

Williams Lake Mayor Surinderpal Rathor has publicly stated his intention to seek a 2nd term in October....

Those interested in running for Williams Lake Mayor or City Councillor can access information provided on the City of Williams Lake website here

Key Dates:

Formal Nomination Period: September 1-11, 2026

General Voting Day: Saturday, October 17, 2026

Quesnel/Williams Lake Mayor or Councillor 2026 Nomination Packages now available

Starting today (August 4, 2026) until September 11th, 2026 -- people who wish to run for City of Williams Lake or City of Quesnel Mayor or Councillor can pick up their candidate nomination package at both Quesnel City Hall (410 Kinchant St, Quesnel) or Williams Lake City Hall (450 Mart St, Williams Lake) during normal business hours from Monday to Friday excluding stat holidays

For those candidates running for Quesnel Mayor or Councillor -- you can also download the Candidate Nomination Package from the City of Quesnel website at https://www.quesnel.ca/city-hall/elections/2026-local-government-elections or contact the Chief Election Officer for the City of Quesnel by phone at 250-991-7477 or email elections@quesnel.ca

More information is available for those wishing to run for Williams Lake Mayor or Councillor on the City of Williams Lake Election 2026 website at http://www.williamslake.ca/562/Election-2026 or contact the Chief Election Officer for the City of Williams Lake by phone at 250-392-2311 or by email at elections@williamslake.ca

It is strongly recommended to make an appointment with either Williams Lake or Quesnel Chief or Deputy Chief Election Officer prior to picking up the candidate nomination package from either Quesnel or Williams Lake City Halls 

Candidate Nomination Packages for Cariboo Regional District Electoral Area Directors, School Districts #27 (Cariboo-Chilcotin) and #28 (Quesnel) Trustees; District of Wells Mayor/Councillor and District of 100 Mile House Mayor/Councillor are currently anticipated to be available at their local offices in Wells, Quesnel, Williams Lake and 100 Mile House in the next few weeks prior to the official start of the formal Candidate Nomination Period from September 1-11, 2026

~SF

Conservative Electors Association to run local government candidates in Quesnel/Williams Lake this October?

Earlier this week -- the Conservative Electors Association (not connected to the BC Conservative Party) updated their electoral registration paperwork with Elections BC to include new jurisdictions such as Quesnel/Williams Lake to run candidates under the "Conservative Electors Association" banner in local general elections in BC for Mayors, Councillors, Electoral Area Directors this October... 

The Association has 3 key goals -- 

i) Safer Streets

ii) Lower Taxes

iii) Families First 

More about the Conservative Electors Association on their website at https://www.conservativeassociation.ca/

Meanwhile -- the Conservative Electors Association have plans to run candidates in the Kamloops/Kelowna areas and will announce candidates in September.  More from Castanet Kamloops: https://shrlnk.ca/s/Hv4fNLhh

From a historical perspective -- local voters of the Cariboo-Chilcotin have historically rejected those running as a formal slate for locally elected positions (Mayor, Councillor, Electoral Area Director or School Trustee).  

The one and one time that there was a formal slate was in the 2008 Local Election in the District of 100 Mile House under the "100 MIle First" banner who run 1 Mayoral candidate/4 Councillors candidates and the ENTIRE slate was rejected in favour of those who were running independent campaigns and has NOT been attempted since...

It'll be interesting to see if this new slate effort -- *IF* it is attempted in Quesnel/Williams Lake this October -- has any success or goes down to defeat just like the "100 Mile First" slate initiative of 2008.... 

~SF 

Surinderpal Rathor to seek 2nd term as Williams Lake Mayor

Yesterday (June 24, 2026) -- incumbent Williams Lake Mayor Surinderpal Rathor confirmed his intention to seek a 2nd term in the October 2026 Williams Lake local elections

In announcing his intentions -- he stated he was proud of the partnerships that he developed over the last 3 years between the Cariboo Regional District, School District #27, Williams Lake First Nation as well as working with both the Provincial/Federal Governments' to deliver for Williams Lake

He went on to say: 

"Today, I stand before you grateful for what we have accomplished together and we are focused on what lies ahead for Williams Lake.  I commit to continue making meaningful change in our community we must elect leaders that will prioritize strong relationships and keep the momentum we have created to tackle the challenges ahead. That is why today I am announcing that I am running for re-election as Mayor of Williams Lake"

At this point -- he is the only declared candidate for Mayor of Williams Lake.  City of Williams Lake Mayor/Councillor nomination packages for October 2026 local elections are expected to be available for pickup by prospective candidates in mid August 2026, the formal nomination period being September 1-11, 2026 with general voting day on October 17, 2026

Williams Lake City Councillor Jazmyn Lyons will not seek re-election this October

With just over 4 months before voters go to the polls in October 2026 to elect a new Williams Lake Mayor/six City Councillors for the elected term of 2026-2030 -- 1st term Williams Lake City Councillor Jazmyn Lyons announced this past weekend on her Facebook page that she will not seek a 2nd term on Williams Lake City Council this October - more here

This follows a similar announcement earlier this month from her Williams Lake City Council colleague, Joan Flaspohler, who announced that she too won't seek re-election to Williams Lake City Council this October - more here

Williams Lake City Councillors Angie Delainey, Sheila Boehm, Micheal Moses, Scott Nelson and Williams Lake Mayor Surinderpal Rathor have not yet publicly declared their re-election plans for this October but many of them are expected to do so in the next little while....

For those in the Williams Lake area -- there is the upcoming candidate workshop co-sponsored by the City of Williams Lake/Cariboo Regional District being facilitated by former Golden, BC Mayor Christina Benty on Monday, June 22, 2026 from 4-7pm in Williams Lake Council Chambers (450 Mart St, Williams Lake) for those interested either in BC Local Government in general or those interested in running for Williams Lake Mayor/City Councillor or Cariboo RD Electoral Areas D,E,F,J,K Directors' this October - more details here

British Columbia voters (including those in Williams Lake) head to the polls on Saturday, October 17th, 2026 to elect new Mayors, Councillors, Electoral Area Directors and School Trustees for a new 4 year elected term of November 2026 - October 2030.... 

Williams Lake Councillor Joan Flaspohler won't seek re-election this October

Earlier today (June 5, 2026) -- Williams Lake City Councillor Joan Flaspohler announced on her Facebook page that she has decided to not seek re-election this October -- more here

Williams Lake City Councillors Sheila Boehm, Angie Delainey, Jazmyn Lyons, Micheal Moses, Scott Nelson as well as Williams Lake Mayor Surinderpal Rathor have not made any public announcements regarding their re-elections plans but are expected to do so in the next couple of months... 

Meanwhile -- local Williams Lake resident Billie Sheridan has announced her plans to run for a seat on Williams Lake City Council in the October 2026 City of Williams Lake Local General Elections... more here

Local elections to elect new Mayors, Councillors, Electoral Area Directors, School Trustees for a new 4 year term of November 2026 to November 2030 will take place on Saturday, October 17, 2026

 

Calls for Scott Nelson to run for Williams Lake Mayor again!

In May of this year (2025) on YouTube -- a local Williams Lake resident lamented about public safety in Williams Lake and then went on to praise the work of Williams Lake City Councillor Scott Nelson 

View the YouTube video here

The Williams Lake resident then went on to call for Scott Nelson to consider running for Williams Lake Mayor in the October 17th, 2026 City of Williams Lake Local General Election. Councillor Nelson has previously served as Mayor of Williams Lake in the 2005-2008 term and ran for the same position in the November 2011 City of Williams Lake Local General Election but was not successful...

Those running for either Mayor of Williams Lake or for the six Williams Lake City Councillor seats in the October 17th, 2026 City of Williams Lake Local General Election will likely be making their intentions known by Summer 2026 (July - August 2026) ....