Bell: Farkas running to be Calgary mayor, will Nenshi take him on?

“After 10 lost years for Calgary can he walk away with his record, his legacy being challenged and exposed for what it has been. A failure,” says Farkas.

“If it’s my record up against the mayor’s record, I think I can win.”

Farkas sits at Phil’s restaurant in Forest Lawn, across the street from the legendary Big Al’s Bar and Grill, a 10-minute walk from where Farkas grew up in Dover and not far from Paradise Lanes where his granny Liz bowled for years.

Farkas laughs as he recalls the days growing up, flipping burgers at the local Dairy Queen and washing dishes at the Marlborough Keg.

On this day he speaks with Bobby Gosse, a well-known musician in this part of town.

Nenshi also grew up in east Calgary.

“I think where we come from is the reason why we get so deep under each other’s skin,” says Farkas.

“Seeing what I’ve seen and seeing what he’s seen I just don’t understand how we could come to such completely different conclusions. How could you grow up here and forget where you came from?”

What has the mayor forgotten?

Farkas says his 89-year-old granny Liz is fighting cancer.

“The last thing on Earth she should have to worry about right now is the property taxes.

“Our mayor and council have taken advantage of people like her for far too long.”

The councillor looks out the window at the traffic going up and down 17 Ave. S.E.

For Farkas, these are the people paying the bill for pet projects, fat pensions, extravagance and entitlements.

He says these taxpayers, and many others like them throughout the city, need someone on their side who knows city hall without being a slave to it.