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Farkas hopes populist style paves path to mayor's office

'I’ve always been a grassroots candidate,' says Farkas

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Jeromy Farkas has a book about Abraham Lincoln on his nightstand that he says inspired him in his pursuit of the mayor’s chair during a turbulent time in the city of Calgary.

The 35-year-old says the book taught him a lot about how great leaders who inherit tough problems and divided people can bring everyone together for a common purpose. But it might be the person who recommended the book to him in the first place that sheds more light on Farkas’ political beliefs.

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“It’s called Team of Rivals,” says Farkas. “Preston Manning recommended it.”

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In the final days of Calgary’s mayoral campaign, the race has narrowed to a virtual tie between the Ward 11 councillor and his colleague, Jyoti Gondek.

Amid the tightening race, there has been a coalescing of support on both sides — in Farkas’ case, led in part by the entreaties of some Calgary conservative stalwarts who have urged voters to get behind the one-term city councillor.

One of those entreaties came from the former leader of the Reform party who established the Manning Centre where Farkas worked for four years. And the stamp of Manning’s populist style of conservative politics is apparent in Farkas’ regular town halls with constituents and zeal in supporting local protests of business taxes or the southwest rapid transit network.

“I’ve always been a grassroots candidate,” says Farkas. “The fact is that my candidacy for mayor is viable is because of that continued focus on the grassroots; thinking about the people who elected me and, frankly, the people who have been very locked out recently of city hall decisions.”

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In his four years on council, Farkas has resolutely remained an outsider, voting ‘no’ more than any other councillor and voting against many of the big projects and programs that were the hallmark of the last term — including the arena deal, the Green Line LRT project, the downtown redevelopment plan and the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF).

To the chagrin of some developers and the delight of some residents, he has been a frequent vote against infill development in existing neighbourhoods, routinely voting ‘no’ anytime some members of the public were opposed to a rezoning.

He has sometimes occupied a lonely place as critic: sometimes as the sole vote against a proposal — such as the recent vaccine passport bylaw; or in proposing an idea that failed to win a seconder among his colleagues — which was the fate of Farkas’ failed bid for a five per cent cut to council pay in 2018.

His methods have rubbed his colleagues the wrong way and he has consistently provoked the ire of conservative councillors through his discomfiting habit of outflanking them on the right.

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Farkas so annoyed his colleague Coun. Peter Demong once, by describing in-camera council meetings as “secret meetings” used to instil fear and intimidate, that Demong erupted on Twitter: “I really don’t want my name associated with such a ludicrous statement. You must be going to different closed meetings than me.”

He is the only councillor this term to have been subjected to a vote seeking his ejection from council chambers. Twice.

But the youngest member of council has also attracted many supporters outside city hall with his staunch advocacy for lower taxes and increased transparency.

Each time he has faced attacks from colleagues, Farkas says he has taken courage from his family’s history as Hungarian dissidents against the Soviet regime, and from his constituents.

“Regardless of what city councillors hurl at me, I’ve always known that I’ve had the support of my constituents,” Farkas says. “That gives me the confidence to be able to stand up in the council chamber, sometimes alone, but knowing that I have the support of the people behind me.”

Farkas’ platform calls for a four-year property tax freeze, but he has suggested he would be in favour of an increase to police budgets and improvements aimed at safety and security, including flood-mitigation efforts.

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If elected, he says he hopes to lead a team of new and old councillors to tackle Calgary’s intractable problem of high downtown office vacancies, but even some of his high-profile supporters have their reservations about his ability to build coalitions on council to get things done.

In a message promoting a reception for Farkas at the Petroleum Club, Manning credited Farkas for being a voice of “opposition” to Mayor Naheed Nenshi, but added: “It is important, however, for someone in that position to clearly understand the difference between being in opposition and becoming the constructive leader of a civic government.”

Mount Royal University political scientist Lori Williams said despite the “deep strand” of populism that runs between the two figures, Farkas has had to reassure his supporters that he will be able to accomplish his agenda.

“The question that remains, and even Preston Manning acknowledges, is whether Jeromy Farkas has been effective in actually trying to pursue or accomplish the kinds of goals that are associated with this populist brand of conservatism,” says Williams.

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“It’s basically acknowledging that Jeromy Farkas’ history on council has been quite combative, and that’s going to be a problem going into a new council if he’s mayor and wants to exercise leadership.”

Political watchers say Monday’s election will likely come down to a referendum on one of the most controversial city councillors in recent memory.

“It really is Farkas or not. Some of it is a vote for Gondek, but it’s largely a vote against Farkas,” says Mount Royal University political scientist Duane Bratt.

“Because people know who Jeromy Farkas is, and they either love him or they hate him.”

mpotkins@postmedia.com
Twitter: @mpotkins

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