Bell: Calgary mayor's race heats up — Jeromy Farkas gets it from left and right
In the ranks of Communities First are those who say the Farkas of 2021 is far different than the Farkas of today.
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What they mean is they believe he's not as conservative.
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They believe he turned left while the left believes he never turned at all.
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They believe Sharp is gaining in popularity while admitting if the election was today, and not in October, Farkas would be favoured to win.
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'He may call himself Pathfinder now but Jeromy Farkas is up to his old tricks spinning half-truths and stirring outrage using inference and innuendo.'
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They say city hall's big boss paper shuffler didn't get a raise of his big fat salary.
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They have a far different view of the arena deal than Farkas and they clarify Sharp voted for the climate emergency declaration but did not support the massive spending attached to it.
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Farkas clearly doesn't mind being the centre of attention.
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'They're scared because they can't push me around. The establishment types are going to attack, so let them attack.'
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'I've got the left, the right and the city council establishment all teaming up. I must be doing something right.'
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'They see an all-star team, they see the money we raised, they see the lawn signs and they see the bogeyman.'
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'They've lived in spreadsheets, slogans, echo chambers. Rick, I failed in public. They've never done anything bold enough to fail at.'
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'I made mistakes in full view and owned them. I've taken real risks. These guys wouldn't know risk if it unfollowed them on Instagram.''
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'Every time they put this B.S. out it only accomplishes one thing. More volunteers and more donors sign up for our campaign.'
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Farkas is curious to see what comes next. He wants to help out his critics.
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'I eat vanilla ice cream, my socks are mismatched and, maybe just maybe, if you don't eat your broccoli big bad Jeromy will come for you.'
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He laughs.
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'I'm really the last thing this left-wing or right-wing establishment wants. Somebody who is actually interested in solving problems rather than just fuelling the anger machine. I've learned. I've survived. I've built teams. Doesn't mean I'm a flip-flopper, just means I have a working brain.'
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