A group of six independent candidates for Surrey school trustee have joined forces in hopes of bringing a "new and progressive" voice to the board table.
The so-called Surrey Progressives includes incumbent Trustee Charlene Dobie, as well as hopefuls Rayman Bhuller, Patricia Enair, Kirsty Peterson, Sara Sharma and Niovi Patsicakis.
The group says though it's not an official electoral organization or party, the candidates have "a common vision for public education in Surrey."
Dobie hopes to retain her seat of the Surrey Board of Education after first being elected in 2011 as part of the now-dissolved Surrey Civic Coalition.
Patsicakis is a retired (LST) Learning Support Teacher, Enair was co-chair of Surrey's District Parent Advisory Council for eight years, Peterson is Chapter Development Officer for Canadian Parents for French B.C. & Yukon branch, and Sharma and Bhuller are both real estate agents.
Surrey Progressives will be holding an open house Oct. 25, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 8097 134 St. For more information, check www.surreyprogressives.ca