Calgary lawyer Bill Smith added his name to the list of those running for mayor in the city’s 2017 election on Monday.
According to a news release, Smith began his career as a firefighter before completing law school. He now owns the Law Shop, a general law firm in the 100 block of 6 Street S.W.
“Bill was born with a sense of community, which he credits to his mother,” the news release states.
Smith has four children.
Speaking with Global News on Monday, News Talk 770’s Danielle Smith said the latest mayoral candidate is an “instant front-runner.”
“Bill Smith is very well known in conservative circles,” she said. “I met him back in 1998. He and I ran against each other for a trustee position in Ward 6/7 so I have known him all of this time.”
“He’s just one of these genuinely nice people.
WATCH: Danielle Smith discusses Bill Smith’s run for mayor of Calgary
In addition to Coun. Andre Chabot and Nenshi, Calgary businessman Shawn Baldwin and David Lapp have declared their intentions to run for the city’s top seat.
Chabot spoke to reporters about the news after Monday’s council meeting, and said he wasn’t worried about vote splitting.
“I’m not running against anyone. I’m running for mayor,” he said. “I suspect that everyone else is going to be running for that position. Some might be running against Nenshi. I am not running against Nenshi, I am running to be mayor.”
Calgarians head to the polls on Oct. 16, 2017.
With files from Yasmin Jaswal