Delta city councillor Dylan Kruger launches mayoral candidacy under new party | Daily Hive

One Delta 2026 City Council Trustee candidates (left to right): Sarah Gallop, Rod Binder, Jennifer Johal, Dylan Kruger, Sylvia Bishop, Daniel Boisvert, and Pawan Joshi. (One Delta)

Two-term Delta city councillor Dylan Kruger has officially launched his campaign for mayor — unveiling a full roster of Delta City Council and Delta School Board candidates under the new One Delta party banner, and outlining a platform centred on infrastructure improvements and economic development, as well as what he describes as a return to fundamental municipal priorities.

With under five months to go before the October 2026 civic election, Kruger formally announced his candidacy this week and framed his campaign as an effort to refocus the City of Delta on practical issues such as public safety, core services, and fiscal accountability.

“Delta is one of the greatest communities anywhere in Canada, and I believe our best days are still ahead of us,” said Kruger, who is a public relations expert and an outspoken urban issues commentator supporting public transit investments and transit-oriented development.

“We are all here because we care deeply about Delta and its future. This team has the integrity, character and experience to move our community forward together.”

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The party’s platform will focus on four broad priorities: maintaining and expanding infrastructure, encouraging economic growth, investing in recreational and community amenities, and improving transparency and public engagement at City Hall.

“It’s time,” said One Delta’s mayoral candidate. “It’s time to get back to basics. It’s time for leadership that brings people together. And it’s time to believe in what Delta can become.”

Throughout his announcement speech, Kruger contrasted his vision with that of mayor George Harvie and his Achieving For Delta party, arguing residents have expressed frustration about the direction of Delta City Hall. Harvie will be seeking a third term in the upcoming election.

In Spring 2024, for precise reasons that have not been publicly specified, City Council voted to remove Harvie from his appointed seat as the chair of Metro Vancouver Regional District.

Kruger also pledged to restore citizen advisory committees as a way of increasing resident involvement in municipal decision-making.

“We spoke up, challenged the status quo and fought to bring the focus back to the people of Delta because public service is about serving others, not yourself,” said Kruger.

“Taxpayer dollars are not a piggy bank for international travel, and public input is not an inconvenience to be tolerated. It’s a cornerstone of our democracy.”

Among the major policy commitments unveiled was a proposal to build a new “full-service” recreation centre in North Delta. Kruger characterized the project as part of a broader strategy to expand community infrastructure and accommodate future growth.

The party also pledged improvements to Ladner’s Patterson Park — currently a large field with an oval walking track, situated next to TransLink’s Ladner bus exchange and park and ride, Ladner Leisure Centre, and Delta Hospital — with plans to transform the site into a larger venue for festivals, concerts, markets and other public gatherings.

“Patterson Park has the potential to become one of the great gathering spaces in the Lower Mainland,” said Kruger.

“The success of the Barnside Harvest Festival showed what’s possible when we invest in spaces that bring people together and create community pride.”

Economic development featured prominently in the campaign launch. Kruger committed to creating what he says would be Delta’s first dedicated economic development office, intended to attract new business investment and support job creation.

“Delta is strategically positioned to become one of the most economically important communities in British Columbia,” said Kruger.

“But while other municipalities are actively competing for investment, Delta has been sitting on the sidelines. That will change on day one.”

Here is the list of One Delta’s city councillor candidates:

Rod Binder — incumbent city councillor, senior executive in sales and business management
Sylvia Bishop — former two-term city councillor, educator
Daniel Boisvert — incumbent city councillor, notary public and community advocate
Sarah Gallop — interior design professional, business owner, and community volunteer
Jennifer Johal — incumbent city councillor, former teacher, and financial operations lead
Pawan Joshi — lawyer and community sports leader

Here is the list of One Delta’s School Board trustee candidates:

Jesse Bierman — municipal planner and physical literacy expert
Tamara Bissett-Laza — labour representative and public education advocate
Ammen Dhillon — incumbent trustee, vice-chair of the board, clinical counsellor, and PhD research scientist
Masako Gooch — incumbent trustee, healthcare professional, and inclusive education advocate
Gurinder Kahlon — public transit professional and grassroots community volunteer
Surj Uppal — business executive, investor, and youth coach
Val Windsor — four-term incumbent trustee, leader in education, and former board chair

In the 2022 civic election, Kruger won 14,242 votes in the race for City Council — finishing in second place, just behind Alicia Guichon’s 16,533 votes and Daniel Boisvert’s 14,130 votes.

Harvie won the 2022 mayoral race by a landslide, earning 17,050 votes — far exceeding the next challenger of Peter van der Velden and his 3,751 votes.

One Delta School Trustees Candidates Dylan Kruger f1

One Delta 2026 School Board trustee candidates (left to right): Masako Gooch, Gurinder Kahlon, Jesse Bierman, Val Windsor, Dr. Ammen Dhillon, Surj Uppal, and Tamara Bissett-Laza. (One Delta)

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