Sonya Sharp requests recount in Calgary mayoral election following narrow defeat

In the wake of a tightly contested municipal election, Communities First mayoral candidate Sonya Sharp has formally requested a recount of the close vote for the city’s top job.

Sharp, who lost to candidate Jeromy Farkas by just 585 votes in Monday’s election, announced her decision in a statement released Tuesday. The request will be submitted to the city’s Chief Returning Officer for review.

“To every Calgarian who voted in the advanced polls and on election day, regardless of who you voted for, you have my heartfelt thanks,” Sharp said in a statement.

Elections Calgary says the candidate with the second-highest number of votes may request a recount if the difference between them and the first candidate is within 0.5 per cent of the total ballots at a voting station. Sharp cites the margin of 585 votes as just 0.16 per cent.

The unofficial results from Elections Calgary have Farkas with 91,065 votes, followed closely by Sharp with 90,480 votes. Incumbent Jyoti Gondek came in third with 71,397 votes and acknowledged her defeat late Monday evening.

In her statement, Sharp praised the dedication of voters who braved long lines and chilly fall weather to cast their ballots, calling their participation “the very foundation of our government.”

Sharp emphasized that her recount request is not a critique of election workers, who she acknowledged faced a demanding day marked by new procedures and hand-counting ballots into the early morning hours.

“Mistakes can occur during stressful situations,” she noted, adding that her campaign believes the recount is a reasonable step given the razor-thin margin.

“I am happy to accept the outcome of this review, win or lose, because the final word of our citizens is what matters most in local government.”

Sharp says she will not issue further statements or speak to the media until the recount process is complete.

The Chief Returning Officer has not yet responded publicly to the request.