Before he launched a campaign that would see him take over as leader of Alberta91裸聊视频檚 New Democrats, Naheed Nenshi worried politics had become too polarized, too toxic for him.

But ultimately that was why the man known for espousing 91裸聊视频減olitics in full sentences91裸聊视频� decided he had to return.

91裸聊视频淭he players make the game. And if we abandon the game because it91裸聊视频檚 so awful, then the game will get worse,91裸聊视频� Nenshi said in an interview before winning the party91裸聊视频檚 leadership vote on the first ballot on Saturday.

91裸聊视频淲e need a new government very badly, and we91裸聊视频檙e not a debating society.

91裸聊视频淏ut also we don91裸聊视频檛 want to win at all costs. That91裸聊视频檚 what the (governing) (United Conservative Party) does.91裸聊视频�

The win represents a big step onto a much bigger stage for the 52-year-old.

Nenshi was late to the game as an NDPer, getting his party membership earlier this year in order to run for the top job.

But he says his progressive values mesh with the core principles of the party he will now lead as the head of Alberta91裸聊视频檚 Opposition, and the numbers of new recruits back that up.

Membership in the party ballooned more than fivefold from 16,224 in December to more than 85,000 for the vote, spiking after Nenshi joined the race and prompting one of the candidates, Rakhi Pancholi, to exit the race and join his team.

Nenshi learned 15 years ago to translate his intellectual approach to public life into a symbol as simple as a purple tie.

It91裸聊视频檚 not conservative blue. It91裸聊视频檚 not Liberal red.

It91裸聊视频檚 a brand designed to duck partisan branding. Nenshi says it91裸聊视频檚 an invitation for people to set aside their tribalism.

Recently the former three-term Calgary mayor, a Harvard-educated business professor who dove into business consulting in the last three years, has been enthusiastically adding NDP orange to his wardrobe.

Nenshi91裸聊视频檚 family immigrated to Canada from Tanzania. He made international headlines when he became the first Muslim mayor of a major North American city in 2010, and his social-media savvy helped his brand pick up steam.

He was lauded for his handling of the city91裸聊视频檚 devastating flood in 2013.

Calgary city Coun. Gian-Carlo Carra was first elected the same year as Nenshi and said the former mayor should get credit for his fight against what was dubbed the 91裸聊视频渟prawl subsidy91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频� the cost to taxpayers of suburban development.

91裸聊视频淗e believes that democracy works,91裸聊视频� said Carra.

91裸聊视频淗e believes that everyone who is elected has the right and duty to be at the table, and he ran a much more collaborative council than his predecessor.91裸聊视频�

There91裸聊视频檚 no doubt Nenshi91裸聊视频檚 personality has pull.

At the height of his popularity, Carra said people clamoured for selfies with the mayor.

Jeromy Farkas, a conservative voice on city council during Nenshi91裸聊视频檚 final term, has since become an unlikely booster.

91裸聊视频淎fter so many attempts, he couldn91裸聊视频檛 be beaten and he couldn91裸聊视频檛 be bought,91裸聊视频� said Farkas.

Farkas said Nenshi built a reservoir of goodwill behind the scenes, regularly breaking bread with his rival to talk about how they might work together.

91裸聊视频淥ften he thinks he91裸聊视频檚 the smartest person in the room, but it91裸聊视频檚 also a challenge for his opponents 91裸聊视频� because he often is the smartest person in the room.91裸聊视频�

But, Farkas said, Nenshi has baggage. Farkas pointed to tax increases during Nenshi91裸聊视频檚 tenure as mayor and the city91裸聊视频檚 failed Olympic bid.

But Farkas said Nenshi would let other people take credit for his ideas and take blame for mistakes others made.

91裸聊视频淗e was very much a leader of ideas rather than a leader of people,91裸聊视频� said Farkas.

91裸聊视频淗e has been able to fight and go galvanize (the NDP) in a way that conservatives should be rightfully concerned with.91裸聊视频�

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Lisa Johnson, The Canadian Press