Candidates file intentions at City Hall
Posted Sep 20, 2010 10:15 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
There are dozens of candidates for alderman and, unofficially, 15 for the mayor’s chair after nomination day Monday at Calgary City Hall.
The official list will be released Tuesday.
It was a mad frenzy as all the candidates tried to have their papers filed by the noon deadline.
Many were shocked to see former alderman Barry Erskine walk in and announce his intentions to run for mayor.
“Chances of winning is probably not as great but there’s a lot of issues that I’d like to bring forward that I think are extremely important,” said Erskine.
Erskine says he’s been planning the run for mayor for three years but admits he’s well behind in the campaigning due to the loss of his mother.
A few others also added their names while many confirmed their candidacy, including perceived frontrunners Ric McIver, Barb Higgins and Naheed Nenshi.
Higgins is second in the polls but says she still has a shot.
“We have another month to convince people who to vote for and we have a huge undecided at this point,” says Higgins.
There were some who called it quits, like Derek McKenzie and MLA Kent Hehr.
Both were having trouble gaining support and decided to drop out.
Though he appears to be ahead, Alderman Ric McIver says he’s not changing his campaign.
“You know what, I’ve been working hard for Calgarians for nine years and bringing forward ideas that are good for the city and good for the quality of life for Calgarians and that hasn’t changed for me,” he says.
But, he quickly came under fire from Naheed Nenshi, who’s perceived to be in a distant third.
“He constantly tells us the council stinks. Well it does stink. But he’s been there for nine years and he hasn’t been able to do anything about it,” said Nenshi.
