Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke is heading into election day with a substantial lead over her challengers, despite a majority of residents saying it is time for a change, according to a new poll.

The Canada Pulse Insights poll, conducted exclusively for CityNews OMNI TV, found Locke has the support of 33 per cent of decided voters. This puts her a full 17 percentage points above her main competitors, former mayor Doug McCallum of the Safe Surrey Coalition and Linda Annis of Surrey First, who are tied at 16 per cent. 

The poll results suggest Locke’s challengers have not consolidated support behind a single alternative candidate, even as 53 per cent of residents say they want a new mayor. Meanwhile, 47 per cent believe Locke deserves re-election.

Mike Starchuk of Imagine Surrey has 12 per cent support, followed by Troy Van-Vliet of SURREY NOW (10 per cent) and Honveer Singh Randhawa of the Conservative Electors Association (eight per cent). Ten per cent of voters remain undecided.

“What we’re seeing is really the effect of not having a sole standard bearer who can challenge her,” said Canada Pulse Insights CEO John Wright.

“It’s a very fragmented field, so if you’re earning a 40-odd-per-cent approval rating, that’s good enough, especially if you’re going to be getting in the upper 30s or mid 30s, to take the day.”

“The fragmented field means that she comes up the middle and actually has a better chance of winning on Saturday than any of the other candidates,” he said. 

Locke receives positive marks for her performance as mayor, with 63 per cent of respondents saying she is doing a good job. Thirty-seven per cent give her a negative rating.

More than half of residents – 56 per cent – say Surrey is headed in the right direction, while 44 per cent believe it is on the wrong track. 

Poll results suggest Locke’s lead, positive job ratings, and divided opposition have put her in a strong position heading into election day. However, undecided voters leave some uncertainty about the final result.

The survey of 483 Surrey adults was conducted by Canada Pulse Insights between Sept. 28 and Oct. 9, with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.