Nelson: Despite anger, many Calgarians will pass on civic vote

Jyoti Gondek could receive as few as 70,000 votes and still be re-elected as Calgary’s mayor.

That seems ludicrous. But it’s not because this looming civic election has all the hallmarks of delivering a ridiculously low voter turnout — one that would do absolutely nothing to restore civility and respect at city hall.

Let’s face it: politics is about power. And power comes from the people. The smaller the mandate, the more difficult it is to govern with authority. And a lack of authority in the mayor’s chair benefits only civic administration, one that in Calgary is already guilty of overstepping its responsibilities on too many occasions.

Sadly, advance polling numbers suggest a 30 per cent drop in those bothering to cast a ballot compared to the previous civic election in 2021. One may