The Safe Surrey Coalition is accusing Mayor Brenda Locke of engaging in a "shocking display of cronyism" related to the hiring of Surrey Connect Councillor Pardeep Kooner's cousin Harry Kooner to a newly-created Director of Public Relations and Intergovernmental Affairs job, at a salary of $208,538.45.
In a press release issued on June 25, the SSC charges that "this appointment raises serious ethical and governance concerns, given Kooner's lack of qualifications in the role and his close personal ties to Surrey Councillor Pardeep Kooner."
Former Surrey mayor Doug McCallum, whom Locke defeated in the 2022 civic election, is quoted in the release as saying Locke's "blatant cronyism is a disgrace to Surrey," and the SSC is calling for a "thorough investigation into the appointment process."
Coun. Doug Elford, of the SSC, told the Now-Leader that "I think there's a potential for a perceived conflict of interest there and it is something that the public has to be made aware of."
But Kooner believes McCallum's imputation is personally motivated.
Kooner said he worked "tirelessly" on one of McCallum's election campaigns before there was a falling out. "I was part of his campaign...I ran his campaign along with John Cameron. I rented his campaign office for him.
"He knows me personally," Kooner stressed. "I'm not a developer, by the way."
McCallum has not replied to requests for comment.
Neither Locke or Kooner responded to requests for comment. Instead, the City issued a statement attributed to Joey Brar, Surrey's general manager of corporate services, noting that Kooner has been employed with the City of Surrey for more than 20 years and "during this time and outside of his employment with the city, Mr. Kooner has been involved in non-profit community services and in both public outreach and political engagement.
"In both his professional and personal roles," Brar continues, "Mr. Kooner gained significant experience within these realms, which positions him well for his current role in the Mayor's Office as Director Public Relations and Intergovernmental Affairs."
Meantime, Pardeep Kooner told the Now-Leader her cousin has been working for the City for at least 22 years. "I have no authority on who is hired and who's not hired," she said. His new job, she said, is "kind of in the same lines, I think it's the experience that he had at the City over the 22 years of dealing with residents and getting to know people and being in that position he was before has provided him with that knowledge.
"But again, I don't hire people and I don't actually have any say whatsoever of where people are like staffed," she added. "I have no say in that whatsoever nor have I asked to have any say in that. That's all based off of HR and the city manager."
The SSC press release characterizes Harry Kooner as Locke's "developer friend from her inner circle."
"He's only had one development project go through on his primary residence and I stepped out of that vote, as did mayor Locke," Pardeep Kooner said. "I don't think it's cronyism whatsoever."
"I know he was in the bylaws department and has worked his way up," she said of her cousin. "But that's what happens, you know, you're with any company for a very long time you learn the ropes. I honestly don't know his HR situation nor have I ever asked, never have I ever commented on it, I know people work really hard and I think they deserve to move on up, that's for sure."
