A swearing-in ceremony was held Monday for Calgary city councillors elected in last Monday’s 2017 municipal election.
Four newcomers joined city council for the 2017–2021 term, including Jyoti Gondek, Jeff Davison, Jeromy Farkas and George Chahal. All four won in wards with no incumbent.
The four rookie council members are expected to bring a more fiscally conservative approach.
“I would say the voters and my colleagues have all heard the same thing: we need to practice better money management,” Gondek said.
WATCH: Calgary’s new city council was sworn in Monday. Global’s Gary Bobrovitz takes a look at what Calgarians can expect.
The new councillors are pledging to target taxes and spending.
“Most Calgarians have a need and want-list and most people have to spend from the need-list, that’s what they would like to see from council, as well,” Davison said.
LISTEN: Jeff Davison joins Calgary Today following the swearing in ceremony
“There was some real problems with the last council,” Mount Royal University political analyst Duane Bratt said. “They had to bring in mediation at various times … there were a lot of nasty things that people were saying back and forth.”
“Now you’ve got some fresh faces. Does that change it? Or are some of the same people who were nasty to one another still there – and there just going to perpetuate this?”
Bratt said he thinks Calgary city council leans “more conservative” right now.
WATCH: Duane Bratt with Mount Royal University joins Global Calgary to discuss what dynamics Calgarians can expect from the new city council.
The swearing-in ceremony was held in the atrium of the Calgary Municipal Building at 2 p.m.
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