Mayoral candidate Jeromy Farkas claims unions in Calgary are spending $1.7 million to “buy the mayor’s chair” for Jyoti Gondek..“.They have amassed $1.7 million or more into a Third-Party Advertiser. This is an American style of politics, called a ‘Super PAC,’ that is used to funnel special interest money to in attempts to buy elections,” said the Farkas campaign in a Thursday statement..“.$1.7 million is more money than all of the 27 mayoral candidates will likely spend, combined.”.“.The union third-party advertiser is not doing this out of the kindness of their hearts. They want to buy a city council that will put their own interests ahead of anything else. And that’s why they’ve endorsed Jyoti Gondek.”. Screen-Shot-2021-10-07-at-9.58.20-AMCourtesy Farkas campaign .“.With only 11 days left until the civic election, we have seen a surge in negative advertising vilifying Jeromy — all because he is putting everything on the line to champion everyday Calgarians, ahead of special interests,” said the campaign..Farkas also made the union funding comment Wednesday night during a mayoral candidates forum put on by the Calgary Chamber of Commerce..“The truth is, Coun. Gondek, she doesn’t answer to you. She doesn’t answer to anyone remotely resembling everyday people,” said Farkas..“She answers to the money. She answers to the backroom union bosses who, at this very moment, have shovelled in those $1.7 million to buy her the mayor’s seat.”.Gondek did not fire back at Farkas’ allegations during the debate but the campaign issued a statement Thursday to the Western Standard..“We did not seek the endorsement of Calgary’s Future or any other TPA. There is no financial relationship between the Jyoti Gondek campaign and any TPA. And, perhaps most important, there is no commitment from Jyoti Gondek to any group should she be elected mayor,” the campaign said..Western Standard political columnist Cory Morgan wrote about the union issue last week.
