Sue Higgins - The 'Alderbroad'

[Minnie]

I was just reading Mayor Nenshi's fb page and he's posted that she passed away yesterday.

Originally Posted by Mayor Nenshi

I was very sad to hear of the passing on Sunday February 16 of the incredible, indefatigable Sue Higgins.

Sue served as an alderman (or, as she preferred, “alderbroad”) for 21 years, from 1977-1983, and again from 1986-2001. Always a voice of a citizen, she ensured that every penny was spent well.

In an age of polished politics and spin, Sue was always straight-talking and blunt, using her own form of colourful language. But under that tough exterior, she had a deep love for this city and for everyone in it.

Her personal story is also deeply inspiring. At a time when the job of alderman was considered part-time – and paid a pittance – she took it on full-time, working crazy hours for nothing but a desire to make the community better. Having lost her husband, she did it as a single mother of three. Times were tough, and she could have done just about anything else, but she persevered.

There's a bit more on his FB page.

[frinkprof]

She had a park renamed after her about a year and a half ago.

http://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/Parks/Pag...gins-Park.aspx

A bit before my time, but by many accounts, a legend in Calgary politics.

[Dion]

She died on Sunday after a long battle with lung cancer. For the last 18 months she was being cared for in a hospice, her family said.

Former alderman Dale Hodges remembered Higgins as a "force unto herself."

He said Higgins made her presence most felt on council when it came to matters concerning the city’s operating and capital budgets.

“She was a person who was very interested and very determined to make sure that city finances were under control,” he said.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgar...dies-1.2540191

[CaptainYooh]

Sue never shied away from using the f-word in conversations. Always with a cigarette. Always in your face. Always real, what you see is what you get. Rest in peace.

[Red Slinger]

My mom worked at City Hall for 25 years, all of them overlapping with Sue Higgins' time there. She shared quite a few stories about Higgins but the one that always stood out was that Sue would randomly and proudly fart around others. Not a little toot followed by an "oops, excuse me" but a full on ripper.

[MoneyGuy]

A city councillor here chiming in. I knew Sue a little through the AUMA. She was a character and was respected. God bless, Sue.

[Rathji]

My dad worked on a couple of her campaigns when we were around, and I suspect a few before we were around as well. Always will have fond memories of her.

[Dion]

Sue Higgins recalls political partnership with mayor Ralph Klein

“Ralph was very drunk — he made a complete ass of himself, and we had a go-round,” recalls Higgins.

“He came and told me I was no good or some damn thing, and then he told me I was a prostitute.

“It p----d me right off.”

It turns out Higgins and Klein were meant for each other — she as the fiscal hawk who was determined to cut spending, and he as the charismatic leader who took Higgins’ no-waste philosophy to the Alberta capital a decade later.

“It was ‘holy s---, he’s the mayor, so now I have to smarten up and be nice to him,’ ” says Higgins.'

“But after that, he was always very nice to me — he let me do the finance stuff.”

There were a few rough edges. She recalls telling Klein to smarten up his dress code in her council chamber (yes, her chamber) but for the most part they worked together, novice mayor and no-B.S. book watcher.

“We’d plant people in the audience at the debates, to ask Ralph questions he didn’t know the answer to. But when someone asked him how many millions we’re spending on such-and-such a thing, he’d just turn to me, and say, ‘Suzie, how much are we spending?’ ” she laughs.

“It used to p--- my team off — they said we were like an old married couple.”

http://www.calgarysun.com/2013/04/04...or-ralph-klein

[Bunk]

I never had the opportunity to meet her, but learned a lot about her, especially from Alderman Hodges and some of the long time Aldermanic Office staff when we were going through the process of renaming Southland Park after her. RIP Alderbroad.