---
title: "Garry Thind named Conservative candidate in Surrey-Guildford, stays on school board ballot"
description: "The North Delta Reporter reports that Garry Thind is running for the BC Conservatives in Surrey-Guildford while still listed on the Surrey school board trustee ballot for the October 17 civic election, because the provincial snap election call came after the withdrawal deadline."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/bc/provincial-2026/news/garry-thind-conservative-surrey-guildford-2026"
last_updated: "2026-10-10T04:07:00.965Z"
---

[Garry Thind](/bc/provincial-2026/candidates/garry-thind) has been announced as the Conservative Party of BC candidate for Surrey-Guildford in the October 24 provincial election. The North Delta Reporter reports that Thind will also appear on the Surrey school board trustee ballot for the October 17 civic election, a situation he says he did not choose.

The issue stems from the timing of the snap election call. BC NDP leader David Eby called the provincial election on September 22. The deadline for candidates to withdraw from civic races in most BC municipalities, including Surrey, was September 18, four days earlier. Thind had already filed as a school board trustee candidate before the provincial race was called, and the window to withdraw had closed.

"Running for two positions was not my choice," Thind told the North Delta Reporter.

Thind is urging Surrey voters who want to avoid a potential byelection to leave him off the school board ballot. "If people want to leave me out and don't want a byelection to happen for the school board in Surrey, they can leave me out and pick any other six candidates of their choice. There are 24 school board trustee candidates running in school district," he said, according to the Reporter.

The Reporter explains that candidates cannot simply withdraw from a civic race after the deadline. They must ask their city's chief electoral officer to send a formal letter to the province, and the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs decides whether to approve the request. If approved before ballots are printed, the withdrawal goes through. Thind told the Reporter the window for that process had already passed.

If Thind wins both the MLA seat and a school board trustee seat, the Reporter notes that provincial office takes precedence, and the school board seat would be filled through a byelection.

Thind has served on the Surrey school board for 12 years, previously as vice-chair. He told the Reporter that education will remain a priority if he is elected as MLA, and that he also wants to address drug overdoses, extortion, housing, and affordability.

To see all candidates running in Surrey-Guildford, visit [/bc/provincial-2026/races/mla/surrey-guildford](/bc/provincial-2026/races/mla/surrey-guildford). The election is on October 24, 2026. Advance voting runs October 16 to 21. Check your registration at elections.bc.ca.

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