Prior to declaring his candidacy for Ward 11,Farkas worked as a senior fellow specializing in municipal governance at the conservative Manning Foundation for Democratic Education from February 2013 to January 2016.[10][11]
Calgary City Council
City Councillor (2017–2021)
On his first day serving as the councillor for Ward 11,Farkas declined the pension that the mayor and councillors receive. He also declined the transition allowance afforded to him.[12][unreliable source?] He also vowed to oppose the city's new southwest bus rapid transit line.[13]
In early 2018,he faced some criticism for being the sole councillor to vote against a motion directing city staff to draft a new parental leave policy for city councillors,on the grounds that taking time away from city council business would be a betrayal of the constituents.[14]
In December 2018,Farkas was kicked out of a council meeting for breaching code of conduct rules. He made a Facebook post regarding councillors' salaries;the basis of his post were deemed to be untrue. His actions were called "dishonest and irresponsible”by mayor Naheed Nenshi.[15] Farkas was accused of grandstanding on the issue from numerous councillors because he was not addressing his concerns through council and proper channels,but rather posting to social media.[16]
In May 2020,Farkas was found guilty of breaching the code of conduct by the integrity commissioner for his Facebook posts in 2018.[17]
On June 16,2020,Farkas was the only city councillor to vote against the approval of the Calgary Green Line.[18]
In March 2021,a complaint with the integrity commission was lodged against Farkas for advertising in wards outside of his own.[19]
On April 26,2021,Farkas was the only councillor to vote against the Downtown Revitalization Strategy,a plan that would have brought more mixed use activity to downtown Calgary.[20] He was also only one of three councillors who voted against immediately reserving $200 million for the Downtown Revitalization Strategy.[20]
On May 10,2021,Farkas was one of two councillors who voted against a pilot program allowing alcohol consumption in public parks. The motion was passed.[21]
On September 22,2021,a by-law was proposed for proof of COVID vaccinations for certain types of business. This was to further support business owners in applying the provincial health measures,and encourage more people to be vaccinated during a state of local emergency. Farkas was the only member of council to vote against this by-law. It passed 13-1.[22]
Farkas' ten-point platform included a four-year property tax freeze,support for the Calgary Police Service,[23][24] reform to the Council pension plan,support for single-family neighbourhood zoning,improvements to traffic-light synchronization,reduction of Council time spent behind closed doors,the construction of a rail connection between the inner-city and Calgary International Airport,improved snow removal,opposition to selling city parks,and reduction of business red tape.[25]
On October 18,2021,Farkas placed second to Ward 3 councillor Jyoti Gondek.[26]
Mayor (2025–present)
On February 26,2025,Farkas announced his candidacy for mayor in the 2025 Calgary municipal election,as an independent. Farkas narrowly defeated Communities First candidate Sonya Sharp and incumbent Jyoti Gondek,with under 1,000 votes separating Farkas and Sharp.[27]
Personal life
He is openly bisexual,making him Calgary's first openly LGBTQ male mayor and city councillor,[28] and played a key role in pushing the Wildrose Party to adopt a more progressive position on LGBTQ issues.[29] Following his 2021 mayoral loss,he completed a 168 day,4,260-kilometre journey of the Pacific Crest Trail in support of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Calgary and Area,raising more than $250,000 as part of that organization's biggest fundraiser in its history.[30]
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