Higgins joins race for mayor

A new, but familiar face has joined the Mayor’s race today.

Barb Higgins has confirmed what’s been rumoured for weeks: she wants to be Calgary’s next Mayor.

During a press conference this morning, Calgarians got their first glimpse of where the long time news anchor stands politically after hanging up her microphone last week.

“People know I have a social heart, but what you don’t know is that I am a fiscal conservative. I have respect for money, and I have respect on how money is spent”.

That positions her to compete directly with Alderman Ric McIver who’s long been considered the front-runner in the race.

Political analysts say Higgins’ entrance into the race changes the game and she will likely be the one to beat.

“She is popular, she’s well liked, she’s trusted and that may be the thing that gets people out to the polls; someone they can recognize, someone who’s been in their living rooms for so many years,” says David Taras, Political Analyst at Mount Royal University.

But questions still linger about whether she has the experience to lead City Council. Critics say she’s too much of an outsider to be Mayor, but Higgins feels the job is about leadership.

“I don’t want to tell people at City Hall how to do their jobs. I want to set a tone and a vision”.

A former CTV colleague successfully made the jump into politics before; a man every Albertan recognizes, Ralph Klein. While Barb says she respects Klein and his success 3 decades ago, she feels this is a different time.

“I see that as a coincidence, and if anything, I see that as tribute to journalists”.

During this morning’s conference, Barb also noted she made the decision to jump into municipal politics because she no longer wishes to stay neutral.