The old saying that ‘the more the merrier’ doesn’t cut it in civic politics
What already promised to be the wildest civic election in living memory just got even crazier. Get ready — it’s going to be a circus.
Calgarians are now within a year of picking our next mayor and council — Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, being decision day. And if the current level of frustration and anger provides any guide, multitudes of citizens will be keen to cast their vote this time around.
We’ll have lots of choices.
That’s because such is the widespread animosity, Calgarians with political aspirations of their own reckon they’ve got a shot at ousting such unpopular members of council.
However, the old saying that “the more the merrier” doesn’t cut it in civic politics. The more hats thrown into this ring, the likelier those under-pressure council members will get re-elected, as the opposition vote gets split every which way.
I hadn’t counted on Brian Thiessen, a local lawyer believed to have the backing of Stephen Carter, who previously helped both Naheed Nenshi and Gondek achieve mayoral victory.
Now we’re up to six. But why stop there?
Back in the day The Magnificent Seven was one hell of a movie, so if it’s entertainment you seek, then the arrival on the already crowded ballot of a mayoral candidate from our city’s first municipal party will help provide it in spades.
It’s true that when it comes to the mayoral race, we’ve often seen a dozen or more names on the eventual ballot. But most were just no-hopers, grabbing that 15 minutes of fame. Usually, it boils down to a two- or three-horse race, with the incumbent having a running start at retaining the job. (It was Ralph Klein in 1980 who last defeated a sitting mayor in Calgary.)
Not this time around. We are looking at seven potential candidates with serious backing and major aspirations. Most of them will run against Gondek’s record, but they’ll also toss out barbs at their numerous rivals for her job. If nothing else, the debates will be a hoot.
Regardless, whoever wins will almost certainly do so with the lowest percentage of votes cast in Calgary’s history — maybe less than one in three. Won’t that do wonders for future civic unity, something already in decline?
Will any of these candidates drop out when that road to the mayor’s chair looks impossibly steep? This is a suggestion of McLean, who fears Gondek will return triumphant if right-of-centre rivals split the vote and beat each other into electoral oblivion.
Sounds reasonable. But reason will be a victim of ego, hope and obligation.
Welcome to mayoral poker. You might have a weak hand, but stay in the game and others could fold before you. And after spending most of your supporters’ donations, are you really going to announce it’s quitting time a month or so before the actual vote?
Not a chance.
We are set for the nastiest, craziest civic election ever witnessed. Who emerges victorious a year from now is anyone’s guess.
Ominously, one thing’s near-certain: they’ll not be the choice of most Calgarians.
Chris Nelson is a regular columnist.