Watts has tweeted 'Thanks, but nope, not happening!' to suggestions she run for mayor

Two former mayors of Surrey say they've never seen anything like Monday's chaotic budget meeting

SURREY (NEWS 1130) – Two former mayors of Surrey say they’ve never seen anything like Monday’s chaotic budget meeting, with one going as far as saying the city is being run like a dictatorship.

Neither Dianne Watts nor Linda Hepner are pulling any punches.

Watts, who served as mayor of the city from 2005 to 2014, has shut down any rumours she’s looking to run for the mayor’s chair in the next municipal election.

After some pundits brought her name up on social media asking if she would be willing to run yet again, Watts replied with a swift, “Thanks, but nope, not happening!”

Watts told the Surrey Now-Leader that council is being run like a dictatorship, with Doug McCallum running roughshod over process, shutting down councillors and the public.

Her comments come after a council meeting earlier this week erupted in chaos, with people shouting so much at the meeting that McCallum and members of his coalition walked out of chambers due to what they called safety reasons.

Council has been under fire ever since, with some saying the mayor prevented anyone from debating the budget, which was up for a vote and passed that night.

“They were yelling at lot and wouldn’t listen to the chair to be quiet, so yes, that’s not appropriate,” McCallum told reporters following the council meeting.

Meanwhile, ex-mayor Hepner says it’s unheard of to keep elected officials from speaking at all, adding she’s never seen anything like what transpired on Monday before.

-With files from Taran Parmar