Four years ago, I scored a trifecta in Calgary’s civic election. The candidates I voted for mayor, ward councillor and school board trustee all won. This year my luck ran out. Only my school board trustee won—on a safe vote for a solid incumbent.

I voted for the incumbent mayor—Jyoti Gondek— as well. She lost. I was never particularly impressed with her mayorship, but gave her my vote because of blanket rezoning. This I strongly support and Calgary brought it in during her term with her guidance. I felt, therefore, that if she was voted out it would be a vote against blanket zoning. Now I can only hope it isn’t.

Gondek was the city’s first woman mayor, elected by a landslide over a couple of dozen opponents, including this year’s winner. This time she came third. The successful candidate—Jeromy Farkas—unlike Gondek in 2021 enjoyed no landslide. He won by less than a percentage point and the runner-up has demanded a recount.

Farkas served a term on council ending in 2021. He didn’t do well. A graduate of the Manning Institute, he constantly fought with his fellow councillors. This record suggests he is not a mayor who can weld council into a team.

However, he insists he is a changed man. During his hiatus from politics he walked the West Coast Trail where he claims he had an epiphany. He recognized his past divisiveness and now saw the need to work with others, admitting that last time around there was “quite a bit of ideological jackassery” We can only hope.

For ward councillor I voted for my former MP and Trudeau cabinet minister, Kent Hehr. Kent carried some baggage due to his alleged mistreatment of a party volunteer, a circumstance Trudeau apparently turfed him from cabinet for. I don’t believe one’s past sins should be eternal burdens, so that sin didn’t deter my vote for someone I consider a good man.

In any case, he ran fourth. I am not disappointed with the winner, Nathaniel Schmidt. Unlike most of his competitors, he gives qualified support to the new blanket rezoning and generally seems tuned in to the special needs and interests of our inner-city ward.

The introduction of parties in this election, dictated by the province, did not seem to enthuse the voters. Turnout was surprisingly low, particularly considering the heat generated by the blanket rezoning issue. This may have been partly due to new rules also imposed by the province that caused long line-ups, discouraging some potential voters.

There have also been distractions giving voters other issues to think about, including a teachers’ strike now in its third week. And of course it’s World Series season and “Canada’s team” is in the thick of it.

With 10 newcomers and only four incumbents, this will be a seriously rookie council. It also looks like a much more conservative council, starting with the mayor. Not a change that adds to my store of happiness. However, it’s early days. This group may turn out to be more progressive than I expect. If so, I will be pleasantly surprised; if not I will be neither surprised nor disappointed.

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