It is so very different just one day before, late in the afternoon, when Bronconnier parties at the swanky eatery known as La Caille on the Bow. It is all gladhanding and backslapping and good cheer, arms around, thumbs up, posing for Polaroids, all smiles and chuckles, talk of momentum and even whispers of victory. The next morning, yesterday morning, Bronconnier finds out he leads in the latest poll. The numbers confirm the feelings he has held. We're going to keep getting the message out.
Life is good.
But, hours later, late yesterday afternoon, he gets that call from a reporter. The reporter speaks of that call of alleged death threats traced to Bronconnier's mom's cellphone and an ongoing police investigation. Suddenly, the longtime alderman's challenge for the mayor's chair is not about answering yet another predictable question about roads or open government or Enmax, water quality or public safety or the state of the city's finances. This is far more personal than that. And potentially it is far more political.