Editor’s note: This is a fresh profile of Bob (Bilal) Cheema, who ran for Surrey city council in the 2026 municipal election. It replaces an earlier draft of this profile.
Bob (Bilal) Cheema was a candidate for Surrey city council in the 2026 municipal election, one of dozens of hopefuls who put their names forward for the eight council seats at stake. General Voting Day was October 17, 2026.
Background
Cheema, known to many voters as Bob, sought a seat on Surrey city council as part of the crowded 2026 municipal field. Like the other candidates in Apna News’s council profile series, he campaigned across the city’s neighbourhoods in the weeks leading up to voting day.
Platform highlights
Cheema’s campaign focused on the core municipal issues that defined the 2026 Surrey race: public safety, affordability, housing, and infrastructure. Voters weighing the council ballot had a long list of candidates to choose from, and Cheema made his case on keeping Surrey livable and safe as the city continues to grow.
Election outcome
Surrey voters cast their ballots on General Voting Day, October 17, 2026. In the mayor’s race, Doug McCallum of the Safe Surrey Coalition was elected mayor, defeating incumbent Brenda Locke. For the full breakdown of who won seats on council, school board, and the mayor’s chair, see Apna News’s “Surrey Election 2026 Results: Mayor, Councillors, Trustees” coverage.
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