Calgary’s mayoral recount is complete, and the lead for Mayor-elect Jeromy Farkas has grown.
The recount began Monday, Oct. 27, at 9:30 a.m. and, according to sources, was completed at 6:30 p.m. that evening. Elections Calgary made the results public on Tuesday around 11:30 a.m.
The results showed that Mayor-elect Farkas garnered 91,112 votes, while the second-place candidate, and former Ward 1 Coun. Sonya Sharp had 90,496. That count increases the Farkas lead to 616 from the previous 581.
Sharp had requested the recount over the weekend. In a letter to Elections Calgary, it also indicated that work had begun on an application for a judicial recount.
For his part, Mayor-elect Farkas said he reached out to thank Sharp for the campaign.
“I am incredibly grateful to the hard work of the folks at Elections Calgary and the volunteer scrutineers who facilitated and oversaw this important feature of our democratic process,” he said via media release.
A special thank you to the team who supported me throughout the campaign and now throughout this recount. The past week has been filled with the work of building a strong City Council team to get things done for Calgarians.
Sharp thanks Calgarians for the support
Sharp put out a message to supporters on Wednesday afternoon.
“While it wasn’t the outcome we hoped for, we made history together. This campaign marked two incredible milestones: unseating an incumbent after 45 years and achieving the closest mayoral race in Calgary’s history. That’s something to be proud of,” the email message read.
There was no message of a continued judicial recount, though Sharp’s initial letter to Elections Calgary said that one was being prepared.
According to section 103 of the Local Authorities Election Act, a judicial recount can be requested, “At any time within 19 days after the close of the voting stations on election day.”
Sharp said in her message that this campaign was never about party politics. She did thank her Communities First candidates for their campaigns.
“It’s unfortunate that misinformation prevailed at times, but our focus was always clear: to deliver a to-do list to get Calgary back on track,” she said.
On that to-do list were repealing citywide rezoning, hiring 500 officers and restoring good governance by holding City of Calgary senior administration accountable.
