There are many who think Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in Hell of being re-elected this October. Read More
’I wouldn’t be running if I didn’t think I could win,’ says Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek, when asked if she really thinks she has a shot to be re-elected in October
‘I wouldn’t be running if I didn’t think I could win,’ says Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek, when asked if she really thinks she has a shot to be re-elected in October
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There are many who think Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in Hell of being re-elected this October.
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Of course, Gondek is not one of them.
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“I wouldn’t be running if I didn’t think I could win,” she says.
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So what is Gondek hearing when she is out and about in the city? Is it good? Is it bad? What are people saying?
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Gondek is confident many citizens are actually pretty happy.
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“It is wonderful to be out in the community. Calgarians are very positive about their city. Investors are bullish on us.”
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Noon News Roundup
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Talking to city hall watchers, and contemplating the reality of the Cowtown Kremlin is one heck of a thankless job, most of them figure the mayor actually has a shot at being re-elected, especially in a crowded field where the vote is split up among many candidates.
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Even some of her toughest critics tell them they are taking her re-election bid seriously. They are taking nothing for granted.
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One recent city hall issue that didn’t get enough attention when this column had a lot of Mark Carney, Danielle Smith and the separatists is the fact Calgary city hall has been swimming in surplus dollars.
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With all that surplus dough, hundreds of millions of dollars, your taxes were not cut, tax hikes were not eliminated, tax hikes were not even lowered.
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There were no rebate cheques.
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Read More
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Councillors debate ‘electioneering’ accusation while passing two notices of motion worth millions in funding
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Bell: With Gondek running, Calgary city hall politics will be a war
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The flow of money came from gouging on your power bills, cash made on investments and creative bookkeeping.
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The surplus money was spent or put in the city’s rainy-day fund where it is eventually spent, even when the sun is shining.
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Surpluses well over $200 million last year and the year before. Another surplus will come this year.
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Here’s the play.
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City hall brass tell city council how much money they will rake in for the year.
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The number is kept low. The city paper-shufflers then tell city council they need money. They turn their pockets inside out.
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You are taxed more.
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Later, there’s a big surplus but you’ve already paid the tab. Year after year.