Former Calgary city councilor Druh Farrell entered provincial politics, and said he would seek the nomination to run for the NDP on Calgary-Bow riding.
Farrell announced his candidacy in a video posted on Twitter Monday.
Farrell served on the city council for 20 years, and is not running in the 2021 municipal election. The former Ward 7 councilor was elected to the council in 2001 representing constituents north of Bow River.
Lori Williams, professor of policy studies at Mount Royal University, said a number of people had moved from one level of political office to another, including Ralph Klein and Joe Ceci.
But what is unusual in Farrell’s case is his long record on the city council, Williams said. Farrell’s long career can be a help or a hindrance, depending on where one stands.
“He’s been an effective and effective board member at representing motorists combining both inner-city and suburban constituencies. Calgary-Bow is probably sitting more on the outskirts of the city than the core side of the line, so I guess we’ll see how effective that is for him. , said Williams.
But the former board member is also linked to some controversies, Williams said.
Farrell had a backlash when he urged the city planning department to refuse permission to rebuild a Dairy Queen on fire. He wants the family-owned drive-thru to be replaced by mixed-use and high-density developments.
“For some people, because of his policy position, it’s probably someone they will turn down precisely because of what he’s known for. And the question will be what combination of factors will determine people’s voices in driving that?”
Calgary-Bow is currently represented by Demetrios Nicolaides of UCP, who is Alberta’s Minister of Further Education.
