1903 Toronto municipal election
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Municipal elections were held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on January 5, 1903. In the mayoral election, Alderman Thomas Urquhart defeated incumbent Mayor Oliver Aiken Howland, who was attempting to win a third term in office. Urquhart's platform included operating the telephone and gas systems under city management. Urquhart had the support of the Toronto Trades and Labour Council.[1][2] Alderman Lamb came in third.[2]
(In 1903 the Ontario legislature passed a law requiring municipal boards of control to be chosen through direct election by the municipality's voters.[3][4] But this law did not take effect on the Toronto city administration until 1904.)
Toronto mayor
- Results
- Alderman Thomas Urquhart - 8,634
- Oliver Aiken Howland (incumbent) - 7,887
- Alderman Daniel Lamb - 6,473
- Christopher C. Robinson - 914
- Charles Christopher Woodley - 428
Board of Control
1903 was the last year in which the Toronto Board of Control, the executive body of Toronto City Council was not directly elected. At the first council meeting following the general election, council chose Aldermen Loudon, Oliver, Burns and Richardson to sit on the body, which was chaired by the Mayor.[6]
Plebiscites
A plebiscite was held on a by-law to authorize expenditure on a modern pumping engine for the city's waterworks
- Waterworks by-law
- For - 5,615
- Against - 2,730
Source: [2]
City council
Four aldermen were elected to Toronto City Council in each of six wards. Former mayor John Shaw attempted to win an aldermanic seat in the Third Ward, but was defeated.
- First Ward (Riverdale)
- William Temple Stewart (incumbent) - 1,518
- Daniel Chisholm - 1,515
- Robert Fleming (incumbent) - 1,407
- Fred H. Richardson (incumbent) - 1,255
- John Preston - 1,100
- Second Ward (Cabbagetown and Rosedale)
- Frank S. Spence (incumbent) - 1,932
- Joseph Oliver (incumbent) - 1,883
- Dr. John Noble - 1,781
- Thomas Foster (incumbent) - 1,583
- Edward Strachan Cox - 1,426
- David Carlyle - 1,136
- Thomas Davies - 624
- W.A. Douglass - 594
- Frederick Hogg - 585
- Third Ward (Central Business District and The Ward)
- John F. Loudon (incumbent) - 2,814
- Oliver Barton Sheppard (incumbent) - 2,788
- Joseph George Ramsden- 2,356
- Samuel George Curry (incumbent) - 2,154
- George McMurrich (incumbent) - 2,035
- John Shaw - 1,968
- John Patterson - 196
- Fourth Ward (Spadina)
- William Burns (incumbent) -2,770
- William Peyton Hubbard (incumbent) - 2,585
- Dr. William S. Harrison - 2,582
- Stephen Wellesley Burns - 2,469
- Alex R. Williamson - 1,731
- Lieut-Col. Norman F. Paterson - 1,535
- Edmund Schilling - 258
- Fifth Ward (Trinity-Bellwoods)
- James Russell Lovett Starr - 2,508
- John Dunn (incumbent) - 2,435
- William Bell (incumbent) - 1,958
- Frank Woods (incumbent) - 1,864
- Peter Whytock - 1,594
- Alexander Stewart (incumbent) - 1,353
- M.J. Mallaney - 391