With apologies to ‘Dick Whittington and His Cat’
Dave Bronconnier – Thrice Mayor of Calgary
Bronconnier was born on October 7, 1962. A third generation Calgarian (his great grandmother was born in Calgary in 1895), he grew up in the southwest community of Glenbrook and attended Viscount Bennett High School. Bronconnier enrolled at the University of Calgary but left after a short while to pursue work opportunities.
He worked for the City of Calgary Electric System and for Alberta Government Telephones and then in 1983 started a small construction company. In 1987, Bronconnier and his business partner founded First General Services. The company specializes exclusively in insurance restoration and fire damage repairs and now employs 15 people. He is married to Cindy Bronconnier, with whom he has four children.
Political career
Bronconnier served on Calgary's city council as the Alderman for Ward 6 for nine years. He was first elected in 1992 and then served 3 terms before deciding to run for mayor.
In 1997, Bronconnier ran in the federal election as the Liberal candidate for Calgary West. Bronconnier was defeated in a landslide in this election by Reform Party candidate Rob Anders.
Long serving and very popular mayor Al Duerr was retiring leaving the position open. Bronconnier narrowly defeated Bev Longstaff, Duerr's protege, winning the mayoralty race of 2001. He became Calgary's 35th mayor.
Bronconnier was re-elected in 2004 with nearly 80% of the votes. Only 18% of the population voted, making it the lowest voter turnout for a Calgary municipal election in Western Canada.
He campaigned for re-election in the 2007 Calgary municipal election and was re-elected with 61% of the votes.
On February 23, 2010, Bronconnier announced he will not seek reelection in the 2010 October Election.
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March 2, 2011
ReplyDeleteDave Bronconnier announces candidacy for the Alberta Liberal party in the Calgary Glenmore riding. He explained that progressive politics must trump the backward approach of Paul Hinman and the Wildrose Alliance. 'We must prevent this province from moving away from what has been accomplished in Calgary.'
Do you think he will throw his hat into the ring of Provincial politics? People here (in Calgary) squawk about him spending too much money and raising taxes. I'm of the feeling that you have to "maintain" your assets (infrastructure). I desperately need renovations in my 55 year old home in Haysboro. It will cost $15K for kitchen and another $8K for bathroom... or, do I let the home deteriorate? Much the same with the City of Calgary, IMHO. I’d vote for him again.
ReplyDeleteValerie, we have a history of electing ex-Mayors to provincial politics who left behind debt.
ReplyDeleteRalph Klein departed the Mayor's chair in Calgary to the Provincial Legislature having left behind the largest per capita debt in the history of municipal politics in Canada.
Worker's Advocate,
ReplyDeleteIf wishes were horses then beggars would ride,
If turnips were swords I'd have one by my side.
If 'ifs' and 'ands' were pots and pans
There would be no need for tinkers hands!
www.onlineuniversalwork.com
ReplyDeleteevision,
ReplyDeleteWhat the hell is this? Should have reviewed more detail before I posted this.