Mayor Naheed Nenshi to run for third term in 2017

Naheed Nenshi will run for mayor again next year, hoping to secure a third term.

Nenshi announced his plans on Friday morning, giving himself a year to campaign.

He was first elected as mayor in 2010 and was re-elected in 2013 with 74 per cent of the votes.

In a video posted online,Nenshisays his accomplishments over the past six years include investments in roads, transit, recreation centres, parks and fire halls.

• ANALYSIS|What makes Nenshirun? It's not just an unfinished agenda

"And we do it all for some of the lowest property taxes in Canada," he said.

But he added that "times are tough."

"We have a lot of work to do. We have to build a more resilient economy that can weather the storms and the ups and downs better than we've been. We have to build a more resilient city that gets us through natural and man-made disaster. We have to build an even better place to live."

Getting the Green Line LRT funded and built is one challenge Nenshi says would benefit from having an experienced leader at the helm.

"So that particular example is one thatit still needs work in order to be made real. And I don't think a new pair of hands working on that will be able to move that forward as well as an experienced pair of hands could," he said.

Nenshi says his determination to win thelong-fought battle to reform the application processfor secondary suites is another reason for wanting a third term.

'I'm not sure this council has it in them'

"Quite frankly, I'm not sure this council has it in them to be able to find a compromise that makes sure people have safe, legal places in which to live," he said.

"And that very particular one, it might be a tiny one but it is the constant burr in my saddle, because I really believe that every single one of us in the community deserves the protection of the law and deserve to have a safe, decent place to live. And that's another one that I need to continue to work on."

Coun. Brian Pincotttold the Calgary Eyeopenerhe's not surprised Nenshi wants a third term.

"I know the mayor is still enjoying the job. I still think he's doing a good job, he's still got a passion for Calgary that is second to none," Pincottsaid.

"And he's still got things to do."

Not much competition, says prof

Duane Bratt, a Mount Royal University political scientist, said Nenshi was light on details of what a third term might include.

"There wasn't a long explanation about why he is running except for the fact he really loves the job, which I think is true,"Bratt told CBC Calgary News at 6.

Political scientist weighs in on Naheed Nenshi running for a 3rd term

8 years ago

Duration 3:30

Duane Bratt says Nenshi is still popular with many Calgarians

"He is still a popular mayor. He is not where he was right after the flood of 2013 or right after his first election.I don't know how you could be, but he is still well-liked," he said.

Bratt said Nenshi does not have a long list of challengers for the position.

"The only one that there has been rumours about has been Andre Chabot, a conservative councillor. Not a huge profile outside of city council."

The Calgary municipal election is set for Oct. 16, 2017.

• On the app? Watch Nenshi's announcement here.

With files from the Calgary EyeopenerandCBC Calgary News at 6.