Calgary Journal Online

Candidates will have to work hard to engage with public and make themselves heard

When it comes to this fall’s jam-packed mayoral election race, political analysts are having a difficult time looking beyond its two stars.

Hopes that the weeks ahead will see a few more contenders give Barb Higgins and Ric McIver a run for their money may be too much to dream for, says Lisa Young, a political science instructor at the University of Calgary.

There are 14 mayoral candidates running in this fall’s election, which is why political analysts say it’s more important than ever for them to create clear messages and get in front of as many cameras as possible.

Photo: Jeanne Kwong

“It’s really all about those two right now. The problem is that right now, there isn’t much separating them in terms of policy. They’re very similar, which could mean someone else would be able to squeeze through with a different platform…but I doubt it.”

According to a Global News poll conducted on the eve of Higgins’ announcement of her candidacy, the former CTV news anchor has skyrocketed to the front of the pack along with McIver, who up until July 28 was seen as an almost sure lock on the mayor’s chair.

Although the poll, which was conducted by NRG Research Group and questioned 500 random Calgarians, suggested 51 per cent of those polled were undecided, 16 per cent said they would vote for Higgins if the election were held the following day.

It was the highest percentage earned by a candidate, with McIver earning 15 per cent and the rest of the then 11 candidates only earning up to one per cent each.

Because of the strong lead McIver and Higgins have on the other candidates, and with an additional two people stating their intentions to run since the poll was conducted, analysts are comfortable with agreeing the race practically belongs to the two frontrunners.

“I think it’s a great thing that this race involves a battle between two very well-known names,” says Young. “It’s created great excitement for this election, which is always welcome, because it’s hard to galvanize voters into caring these days.”

Name recognition and celebrity status may prove to not be enough as the weeks unfold leading up to Election Day on Oct. 18. Analysts say the platforms released by Higgins and McIver before the end of August have been vague at best, causing many – especially Higgins’ dissenters – to be skeptical about their merits as a potential next leader of the city.

However, Keith Brownsey, a local politics analyst and political science instructor at Mount Royal University, suggests this may be a wise move for the pair.

“It’s an effective strategy for them to be vague at this point,” says Brownsey. “At this stage in the game, they’re coming on sweetly, and can come across as all things to all people.

“Once they get a more decisive vision from the people they talk to leading up to September, they’ll have a better idea of how to fill in those gaps they left blank in their initial announcements, and they’ll be able to appeal to more of a base.”

Brownsey does admit that there is a time limit for Higgins and McIver to play their cards close to their chests, suggesting that unless they release more concrete plans between now and Sept. 20 – the deadline for candidates to ensure they’re on the official candidate list – it will be difficult moving forward beyond that date.

Higgins herself has promised to release a more detailed platform and action plan before Labour Day, and is confident she’ll be able to win the skeptics over despite her having no previous political experience, a sharp contrast to her closest rival.

“I don’t think Calgarians want another politician as mayor,” says Higgins. “I think they want a fresh voice, someone who’s been outside of council but still has a deep understanding of how council works.

“My time as a journalist has allowed me to experience a lot of things in this city. I’ve stayed overnight in homeless shelters, I was there on the last night of the Brick building [on 16th Avenue NW before it closed its doors to the homeless], and I have talked to homeowners and workers and business owners face-to-face. I know what Calgarians want and what they’re looking for in a leader.

“I don’t think there’s any problem with me not having political experience, because I have a different kind of experience, and lots of it.”

McIver, who has promised to deliver a more detailed platform but did not give an expected date for when that would arrive, says he’s not worried about the comparisons between himself and Higgins, allowing his nine-year track record as alderman for Ward 7 speak for itself.

“I feel that with my time spent on council, and my background in business, I am the best candidate to lead this city into a future it deserves and needs,” says McIver.

“During my time on council, I have been the sole member of council who hasn’t been afraid to say no. I have always had the confidence to question whatever issues I felt needed a closer look, and I haven’t let inside pressures affect my ability to ask necessary questions. And I’m not afraid to question the way business is being done in this city, nor am I afraid to change it.”

Meanwhile, 11 other candidates are quietly making the rounds and gathering their own support, arguably with more detailed platforms. Brownsey says Ald. Bob Hawkseworth of Ward 4, and Kent Hehr, the MLA for Calgary-Buffalo, are the most likely to experience gains in the polls leading up to election day, thanks to “well-run campaigns” and solid fundraising.

Hehr recently became the first of the mayoral candidates to post the list of his donors on his website, which he says he will update on a regular basis.

Young says all of the candidates now need to make many more public appearances, and start to get more of a conversation going amongst them in order for people to see how different they are in terms of policy.

“This election is very unusual, because there are so many candidates that it’s difficult for any of them to get media coverage…unless you’re Higgins or McIver, of course,” laughs Young.

“What’s most important for the others now is to really get into the public eye, and try to get their voices heard, and make sure the issues are being addressed and put on the table.

“I think we’re at a crossroads now where we need to go towards a serious conversation about the issues, rather than continue on with the celebrity status and name recognition.”

The first official mayoral debate was held on Aug. 29, which was after press time and thus too late for this story.