Exclusive Metro Calgary/ Ivrnet poll results show a majority of Calgarians committed to voting as of today would rather see Mayor Dave Bronconnier, who enjoyed a landslide victory in 2007,  leave politics altogether rather than run again in 2010.

When asked about Bronconnier’s future in politics, 56 per cent of the 1,090 Calgarians who completed the survey, and who indicated they were likely to cast a vote in the 2010 municipal election, said the mayor should exit the political arena. Fifteen per cent would like to see him seek re-election as mayor, six per cent would like to see him run provincially or federally, and 22 per cent were unsure.

A similar majority, 59 per cent, indicated that if Bronconnier were to run again, they would likely vote for another candidate, with 17 per cent saying they would vote for him and 24 per cent being unsure.

Public opinion research consultant Janet Brown said that while the results don’t necessarily indicate how Calgarians would vote come October 2010, they do provide a window into the minds of engaged citizens today.

“(People) who are engaged enough to feel committed to voting in an election 16 months from now, those people are very dissatisfied with the job Bronconnier is doing right now,” Brown told Metro.

“It’s really an expression that they think it’s time for a change.”

Mount Royal political science expert Duane Bratt said the results aren’t cause for immediate concern to Bronconnier, but could be if a quality alternative for mayor steps forward.

“I mean, it’s a sign of discontent, but how serious a sign it is — I wouldn’t put a lot of stock into it,” said Bratt, noting a recent string of contentious issues at city hall, including the budget, Plan-It public hearings and the recent Chamber report card could have had an effect.

The mayor declined to  comment on the poll’s results.

The exclusive Metro Calgary/Ivrnet automated telephone poll made live contact with 14,319 Calgary households to find 1,090 likely voters between June 24 and June 27, 2009. 

Overall results are accurate to within three percentage points, 19 times out of 20.