Mike’s Good Guest!

Ward 11 Councillor Jeromy Farkas was an interesting guest. He doesn’t sound like a politician. He doesn’t act like one. He acts like a thoughtful entrepreneur who cherishes the opportunity to live and work in Canada.  I liked him. I think we all did.

His grandma came from Hungary. She was an activist in the 1956 revolution there and stared down the barrel of a Soviet tank. She was obviously a person of principle.   His grandfather is a Saskatchewan boy who escaped from an abusive family and came to build a future in Calgary. He didn’t need help to deal with life’s hard knocks. He just managed as best he could.

Jeromy is a ‘live and let live’ kind of person. As he said, I’m a municipal politician: I’m not here to fix the world. I’m here to fix potholes. He doesn’t like a paternalistic city hall. He’s sure Calgary could host the Olympics in style – but he’s not willing to consider doing so without a better financial analysis. If the games go over budget (as they will), Calgary will be stuck with the costs. Another point he makes is that he doesn’t see a Frank King on the horizon. (We need a responsible and smart person to guide the Olympic ship.)

Farkas handled Andy’s searching questions with ease. And showed he knows policy and city history. And my Gawd, is he young!

What I wonder is … how many Birds are moving to Ward 11?

(Thanks Mike.)