Municipal Round-Up — October 15: Vote Unsplitting

All The News That's Fit to Tweet

Oct 15, 2021

First, what’s happening with Rage?

Co-editor Tim Querengesser and I have enjoyed building this newsletter over the past nine months. We’re going to stick around after the vote, but we’re going to take a bit of a break and consult with our subscribers to see what kind of news you want from Rage and how we can grow our paid subscriber base so we can convince our significant others that this is a worthy endeavour.

No really, honey (and new baby. -Tim), people read this thing we’re always working on. We aren’t just trying to avoid doing the dishes!

We’ll pause all your subscriptions during this time, so no need to do anything on your end.

And there’s still a piece or two coming from us!

Email us: RageMunicipal@protonmail.com

Keep YEG weird

This week, Troy Pavlek of the Speaking Municipally podcast delighted Edmontonians and weirded out Albertans with his Crystal Glass billboard and spanking memes. The Crystal Glass billboard has been used before by mayoral candidate Mike Nickel to run attack ads on fellow councillor Andrew Knack. Pavlek performed some judo with this one.

Troy Pavlek @troypavlek

There's a new Mike Nickel billboard on Gateway Blvd #yegvote #yegcc

Pavlek then posted this photo where a man spanking a young child has mayoral hopeful Michael Oshry’s face superimposed on the body. On the child, Pavlek put his own face. The message is, apparently, about fiscal restraint but this whole thing was just really weird to have to type out.

Troy Pavlek @troypavlek

@michaeloshry

Oshry responded.

Michael Oshry @michaeloshry

@troypavlek That doesn’t look real. You aren’t wearing a t-shirt with graphics

Edmonton polls

The election has felt somewhat data-deprived compared to federal and provincial politics. So here’s a poll for you.

Zach Jeffries @ZachJeffries10

See below for methodology:

Farkas attempts to unsplit votes

In an attempt to peel votes from fellow right-leaning fiscal restraint candidates, Calgary mayoral candidate Jeromy Farkas wrote a plea to support him, and painted his main opponent, Jyoti Gondek, as status quo and also somehow a hard-left candidate.

Team Jeromy Farkas @JeromyYYC

In just a few days, Calgarians will vote in the most important election in our city’s history. Please read this letter and consider supporting Jeromy on Monday, Oct. 18th. Change starts now. -Team Jeromy jeromy.ca #yyccc #yyc #yycvote #farkas4yyc

Gondek responded with a head shake in a thread about the attacks against her campaign.

Jyoti Gondek @JyotiGondek

6/And to end on an even more bizarre note, I leave you with this “Band of Brothers” announcement. Farkas has made promises to Davison & Field that he will provide them with “opportunities” if he is elected… implying they should endorse him). SMH.

Political fistfights continue in Calgary

Three major contenders for the mayoral race in Calgary faced-off in a debate.

Madeline Smith @meksmith

Listening in to tonight's CBC debate. Jeff Davison just alleged that three third-party advertisers are working on behalf of Jeromy Farkas and says "eventually it will come out." Farkas shoots back, "I'm not the one under investigation for collusion."

3 top-polling mayoral candidates debate Calgary’s biggest issues | CBC NewsThree of the top candidates, Jyoti Gondek, Jeromy Farkas and Jeff Davison — according to polling conducted exclusively for CBC Calgary — faced off Thursday in a mayoral debate moderated by Calgary Eyeopener host David Gray.cbc.ca

Chris Ollenberger @collenbe

⁦@JeromyYYC⁩ accuses City officials of 'skimming money' - 🙄 irresponsible thing to say, incorrect (they didn’t “skim money”!) & immediately upon finding error it was fixed. Genuine error, responsibly handled & disclosed. #farkno #yycvote #yyccc cbc.ca/news/canada/ca…

Farkas accuses City of Calgary officials of ‘skimming money’ from developers | CBC NewsJeromy Farkas says the fight to become Calgary’s next mayor has become what he calls a “two-horse race.”cbc.ca

Old, terrible rape jokes surface

Dr. Cristina Stasia, she/her @CristinaStasia

.@MikeNickelYEG—re your team posting a rape joke, you distanced yourself: “I’m appalled, all I can do is just take responsibility.” But isn’t the man who posted it playing a major role on your campaign team? Thanks for clarifying #yeg #yegvote #yegcc

Apology from councillor after photo showing Turner, Cosby posted on social mediaEdmonton City Councillor Mike Nickel has apologized after a controversial illustration was posted on the Facebook page for his online show and sparked a backlash.edmonton.ctvnews.ca

Here’s the actual “joke” in question.

Dr. Cristina Stasia, she/her @CristinaStasia

.@clr_mikenickel As #yegcc takes action on #yeg sexual violence you JOKE about it? Be part of solution not problem!

NDP, Papastew, and the slate that never was (don’t @ me)

Friend of Rage, Rajah Maggay, made an online plea to the New Democratic Party that they stop confusing people in the municipal election with their political advertising.

Rajah Maggay @RajahMaggay

I don’t want to come on here to fight anyone but this feels like overstepping like this just confuses people more with the upcoming election 😞 If my family were looking at this they would be confused over jurisdiction & what elxn we’re voting in #yegvote

Hannah Hamilton (she/her) @iamhannah_h

Just received an auto dialer call from @shoffmanAB prompting me to vote for @michaeljanz in the #yegvote As a progressive, I have feelings about this, and none of them are good.

Other progressives on Twitter have been weighing in on what some suggest is a shared voter list between the NDP and some municipal candidates, as well as the ongoing NDP endorsements.