Jeromy Farkas is taking what he learned from his fight on behalf of Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park to city hall, with the announcement Wednesday morning that he will throw his hat in the ring for Mayor of Calgary.
Farkas, who ran and lost in the 2021 election that saw Jyoti Gondek named Mayor, said he’s learned from that experience, and also the recent struggles with the Province over the proposed dam project that he fought on behalf of the Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation, which he was CEO of until today.
As the Province toyed with the idea of damming the Bow River on the eastern edge of the park, Farkas organized letter-writing campaigns, townhall meetings and direct lobbying to convince provincial officials to eventually abandon the proposal. The effort took months.
If built, that dam would have flooded out large portions of Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park, Haskayne Legacy Park and potentially parts of eastern Cochrane.
Never a fan of political parties, he said he was running as a pragmatist, and was moved to run by a combination of recent events.
“I’ve never believed that politics was a spectator sport," he said. "I’m always the kind of guy to roll up my sleeves and throw myself at a challenge."
He said this run would be a good example of a challenge, what with Calgary projected to pass the three million population mark in a decade.
That milestone will bring a basketful of critical issues along with it, like how the city grows in a way that makes sense for Calgarians.
“Calgary is growing, whether we want it to or not, but the choice we have is whether we’ll be ready. And that’s why I’ve decided to run for mayor,” he said.
“How do we keep the city affordable, how do we ensure we have the jobs, the housing, the safety that’s required,” he said. “That is what I’m hoping to put on the table.”
And he wants to offer an alternative to the status quo.
“Right now they’re stuck, out of touch, wasting time, and it’s clear to me and everyone that we need a new council.”
Farkas said there was no single ‘aha’ moment that convinced him to run.
“It’s a bunch of things," he explained. "One of the things that was a catalyst was the experience we had with the Glenbow Dam. It really reinforced in me the recognition that we need real good people at the table, deciding these big issues and setting the direction for our city and our province."
Farkas said another difference between this run for office and his last one was he was going to focus on what he was for – not what he was against.
He will attempt to differentiate himself from some of the ultra-partisan politicking currently in vogue in Canada and elsewhere. He’s not in favour of party politics.
“It’s a difficult time politically. Look at the chaos and partisanship in Ottawa and south of the border right now. I really fear for the introduction of municipal parties in Calgary and Edmonton, and I think its also weaving its way into small towns like Cochrane,” he said.
“It’s clear to me as a non-profit director that we need people running for council that are practical, that are pragmatic, that are focused on solutions rather than just complaining about problems or raising the temperature,” Farkas stated.
Farkas said what’s needed at the council table is “more adults – people willing to listen.”
He said he doesn’t fit into any political label. He’s running to provide a “financially and socially responsible” alternative.
He said his work at the Glenbow Ranch foundation was a good illustration of how he works across typical partisan lines.
“I worked with grass roots and business leaders, environmentalists and ranchers, conservatives and progressives, just to get things done,” he said. “That’s the attitude we need in Calgary.”
