Calgary mayoral candidates cry foul over pollster’s connection to party campaign

ThinkHQ's president Marc Henry confirmed to Global News he is volunteering for the Communities First party and documents show he's donated to Sonya Sharp's campaign.

A new poll that shows a tight race to be Calgary’s next mayor has some candidates raising concerns, with accusations of a connection between the pollster and the Communities First party.

The poll, conducted by ThinkHQ Public Affairs, shows Jeromy Farkas leading with 20 per cent, followed by Communities First mayoral candidate Sonya Sharp at 17 per cent, incumbent candidate. Jyoti Gondek rounds out the top three at 16 per cent, with Jeff Davison sitting at nine per cent support and The Calgary Party’s Brian Thiessen at six per cent.

Twenty-seven per cent of Calgarians remain undecided with just over two weeks left in the race, according to the survey.

“It’s been a sleepy campaign so far and the numbers haven’t really shifted very much,” said ThinkHQ’s president Marc Henry. “Basically three of the mayoral candidates are the ones in contention.”

However, some of Calgary’s mayoral candidates are crying foul over the poll due to a connection between Henry, the Communities First party and Sharp’s campaign.

Henry confirmed to Global News he is volunteering with Communities First and helping out some of their candidates in various capacities.

Disclosure documents released by Elections Calgary also shows Henry donated $5,000, the individual maximum, to Sharp’s mayoral bid in May. He also donated $1,000 to Sharp’s campaign in December.

“Desperation often has a scent and this one reeks,” Davison told Global News. “I think it’s dirty, I think it’s lies, and I think it’s underhanded, but let’s face it, that’s the Communities First party.”