Plenty of UFV connections in recent municipal and provincial election campaigns

It’s been a busy fall for politics in British Columbia, with municipal and provincial election campaigns running concurrently this fall. The political landscape features plenty of new faces, and others who were re-elected. 

There are several UFV connections to both the provincial and municipal elections. These include candidates, and those who work behind the scenes to get them elected.

Hamish Telford, an associate professor of political science at UFV, is a well-known political commentator on municipal and provincial politics. He participated in more than 100 media interviews from mid-September through late October about the municipal and provincial elections, including 14 national TV interviews.

Municipal connections

Abbotsford
Patricia Driessen, an Abbotsford event planner, was re-elected as an Abbotsford city councillor for a second term. Patricia completed the Public Relations certificate through UFV’s Continuing Education in 2023, and a Marketing and Sales certificate in 2006.

Vinay Waraich, a current political science student, ran for school trustee in Abbotsford.  

Recent political science grad and University of Alberta law student Gurmeen Banipal was the campaign manager for mayor Abbotsford Mayor Ross Siemens and councillor Dave Sidhu, who received the most votes among city council candidates.  

Sukhi Dhami, who earned a BSc from UFV, ran for mayor of Abbotsford but was not elected. 

Chilliwack
Jason Lum (UT ’06) was elected as mayor of Chilliwack on October 17, after serving as a city councilor since 2011. Jason was named one of UFV’s 50 Remarkable Alumni in 2024. A UCFV student in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Jason explored a diverse range of subjects, including anthropology, theatre, First Nations studies, sociology and medieval history. His education helped shape his career in business and politics.

Nicole Huitema-Read, who was re-elected to a second term as a Chilliwack city councillor, took courses in business, communications, marketing, and other subjects between 1992 and 2018.

Darren Blakeborough, an assistant professor in the School of Culture, Media, and Society, and Lisa Morry, who retired recently from her library technician role, both ran for Chilliwack council but were not elected. Both are also UFV alumni. Jared Mumford and Raylene Mumford, who are also UFV alumni, ran for Chilliwack council but were not elected. Raylene also received the UFV Betty Urquhart Community Service Award in 2024, and Raylene and Jared’s late mother Sherry Mumford was the first recipient of the UFV Distinguished Alumni Award in 2003.
 

Mission
Several members of Mission city council have UFV connections. Norm MacLeod earned a Graphic Design diploma in 1992, and Ken Herar earned a Bachelor of Arts in 2002.  

Kent
Newly elected mayor Susan Spaeti earned a Bachelor of Computer Information Systems in 2003.  

Pitt Meadows
Alison Evans was elected for a second term on Pitt Meadows city council. Alison earned the Public Relations certificate through UFV Continuing Education in 2021 and a Bachelor of Kinesiology degree in 2004. She’s currently working toward completing the Civic Governance and Innovation certificate, also through UFV Continuing Education.

White Rock
Dr. Conrad King, a political science sessional instructor, was elected to city council in White Rock.

Provincial connections

Bruce Banman was re-elected as the Conservative MLA for Abbotsford South. A chiropractor by profession, Bruce attended Fraser Valley College in 1982 and again in the late 1980s and early 1990s before attending chiropractic school. He completed 90 credits before transferring to Western States Chiropractic College. 

Tony Luck (BA ’07 and former chair of the UFV Alumni Association) was re-elected for a second term as the MLA for the Fraser-Nicola riding.

Former UFV student and board member Andrew Mercier served as chief of staff to former premier David Eby. An MLA from 2020 to 2024, Andrew ran unsuccessfully in the 2026 election in the riding of Langley. Former political science student Tara Cooke also worked in former premier David Eby’s office.

Ashley McDougall, who graduated with Bachelor of Arts in economics and political science in 2025, was the campaign manager for Conservative candidate Misty Van Popta in the Langley-Walnut Grove riding. Ashley was also a regular panelist on CBC Radio’s The Early Edition during the election campaign. Ashley works as a public affairs manager at Impact Public Affairs (Canada) and received UFV’s Outstanding Student Leader award in 2025.

Jacqueline Hudson, who graduated with a political science and economics degree in 2025, is a constituency advisor for MLA Misty Van Popta and also worked on her campaign.  

Jules Côté is a current UFV student and ran as the NDP candidate in Abbotsford West.

Zachary Fletcher, a 2025 Bachelor of Arts graduate in political science and former member of the UFV baseball club team, works as the executive assistant to Chilliwack-Cultus Lake MLA Áʼa:líya Warbus in her Victoria office. Josiah Hansen, who graduated with a BA in political science in 2026, serves as Áʼa:líya’s constituency assistant in Chilliwack– Cultus Lake. Both worked on her recent election campaign.  

While Áʼa:líya herself is not a UFV alumna, her parents, former UFV Chancellor Gwen Point, and former Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia Steven Point, both began their post-secondary education at what was then Fraser Valley College.  Gwen even brought baby Áʼa:líya to class with her in a traditional Stó:lō basket. 

Thanks to Hamish Telford and other faculty members of UFV’s Political Science department for sharing information about alumni involvement in campaigns. Additional sources: local media, LinkedIn, candidates’ websites, UFV Alumni Engagement office. We recognize that this list may not be exhaustive and welcome information about other candidates with UFV connections.  Please email anne.russell@ufv.ca.