1931 Calgary municipal election
Election in Alberta, Canada
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 1931 Calgary municipal election was held on November 18, 1931 to elect a Mayor and six Aldermen to sit on Calgary City Council. Along with positions on Calgary City Council, four trustees for the Public School Board, three trustees for the Separate School Board, and three questions put before the voters.[1] Calgary City Council was composed of a Mayor, a Commissioner and twelve Aldermen who were elected to staggered two year terms. The Council served under the rules of "Direct Legislation", subject to citizen's rights to "Initiative, Referendum and Recall".
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November 18, 1931
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Mayor Andrew Davison, the sitting mayor was running for re-election. Six Aldermen - Lloyd Hamilton Fenerty, Ralph William Patterson, John Walker Russell, Wilmot Douglas Milner, Fred J. White, and Charles Edward Carr - who had been elected in 1930, continued in their positions.[1]
Background
The election was held under the Single Transferable Voting/Proportional Representation (STV/PR) with the term for aldermen being two years.
Incumbent Mayor Andrew Davison was challenged by Communist candidate Phil Luck, who garnered only 5.6 per cent of the popular vote. Luck expected to have greater support amongst foreign born residents. However the Calgary Herald reported a large number of resident aliens were refused the right to vote because they failed to provide naturalization papers or birth certificates.[2]
Results
Mayor
| Candidate | Votes | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Andrew Davison | 17,324 | 94.40% |
| Phil Luck | 1,028 | 5.60% |
Council
Quota for election was 2,611.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | Count | Elected | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Samuel Stanley Savage | 3,257 | % | 1st |  | |
| C.G.A. | Robert Henry Weir | 2,798 | % | 1st | | |
| C.G.A. | Harold William Hounsfield Riley | 2,144 | % | 3rd | | |
| C.G.A. | Jean Romeo Cyr-Miquelon | 1,880 | % | 9th | | |
| C.G.A. | Pansy Louise Pue | 1,708 | % | 9th | | |
| Dominion Labor | Edith Patterson | 1,509 | % | 9th | | |
| Independent | William Cummins | 1,137 | % | |||
| Dominion Labor | William Howell Arthur Thomas | 1,089 | % | |||
| Dominion Labor | William George Southern | 775 | % | |||
| Independent | Harry Humble | 762 | % | |||
| Communist | John O'Sullivan | 459 | % | |||
| Independent | Teddy Attwood | 375 | % | |||
| Communist | Matthew Smith | 340 | % | |||
| Total valid votes | 18,233 | |||||
Public School Board
Electing four trustees. The quota was 3,053
Amelia Turner was elected, received 4670 votes in first round of counting.
A.B. Singleton was elected, received 3996 votes in first round of counting.
F.E. Spooner was elected, received 3423 votes after transfers.
A.C. Newcombe was elected, received 2762 votes after transfers.
R.H. Berry received 1156 votes in first round of counting or after transfers.
Separate school board
| Candidate | Votes | Percent | count |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Burns | 871 | ||
| R. McGuiness | 394 | ||
| P.V. Burgard | 341 | ||
| McKernan | 287 | ||
Plebiscites
City manager
Reorganization of civic government, on whether a City Manager would be hired to take on the role of the current elected Commissioner.[3]
- For - 776
- Against - 4,172
25th avenue bridge
25th Avenue Bridge for $45,000.[3]
- For - 2,845
- Against - 652
Arterial highway paving
Arterial highway paving for $212,000.[3]
- For - 3,098
- Against - 396