1 day Ago By Scott Strasser
Sonya Sharp is entering the race to be Calgary’s next mayor, saying she feels she can “bring Calgarians back” to supporting their local government. Ending months of speculation that she would run for council chambers’ central seat, the current Ward 1 councillor and Varsity resident confirmed her candidacy at The Rooftop on Monday evening, at an event hosted by her Communities First political party. “I think given the alternative Calgarians have right now or today, they’re not getting what they need,” Sharp said Monday, in an interview.
“I really do think I have something different to offer, and I think Calgarians deserve better. They’re craving leadership that listens and not lectures.” First elected in 2021, Sharp was a longtime city employee who also ran a family construction business before entering politics.
A lifelong resident of northwest Calgary, her ties to the municipal government date back to her first job as a lifeguard and swim instructor at the Shouldice Aquatic Centre. She later worked for the city’s planning and development department, and in bylaw technical review. In 2018, she said she championed the creation of the business and local economy team, which acts as city hall’s liaison with the business community.
Since becoming a councillor, Sharp has branded herself a fiscal conservative, criticizing property tax hikes, spending increases and what she feels is city hall wading outside of its jurisdiction. She is currently chair of the infrastructure and planning committee, as well as the event centre committee, which oversaw the development and approval of a new arena deal with the Calgary Flames ownership group. On council, she’s often been the antithesis to Mayor Jyoti Gondek on issues, including the yearly budget, housing policy and how the Green Line LRT project should proceed.
As a member of council’s conservative-leaning minority, Sharp acknowledged it’s been a challenge to accomplish some of her goals and pass some of her proposed motions. “It has been a lot of fight,” she said. Sharp also took aim at administration for driving the agenda at city hall, arguing policy development should come first from elected officials.
She cited blanket rezoning , which council approved last April, as an example of a policy that originated from bureaucrats. Communities First has stated it intends to repeal blanket rezoning if a majority of its candidates are elected to council..
