1930 Hamilton, Ontario, municipal election

Last updated May 13, 2023

The 1930 Hamilton municipal election was held on December 1, 1930 to select one Mayor, four Controllers, and sixteen members of the Hamilton, Ontario, City Council, two from each of the city's eight wards. Voters also cast ballots for trustees for the public school board.^[1]

Campaign

The 1930 campaign was marked by two major occurrences. The first was the absence of a vote on the city's Hydro Commissioner. Unlike in past elections, voters in Hamilton would not have the option to elect their representative to the publicly owned hydro-electric company for the city due to changes in provincial legislation that created an appointed board of three individuals to replace the single elected office of Commissioner. Attempting to de-politicize the office, Ontario's provincial government abolished the elected position and created a three-person board with appointees to be chosen by Queen's Park, city council, and the mayor.^[2]

The second event was the surprise nomination of local athlete Sam Manson for a seat on the Board of Control. Unbeknownst to any more than a dozen of Manson's closest friends, his nomination caught the city's local political establishment by surprise. When rumours of a last-minute entry began circulating city hall at 10:00 the morning of Friday, November 21, the city's sitting aldermen and controllers began questioning the city clerk. Refusing to reveal who the candidate was until five minutes before the close of nominations, the city clerk reportedly faced a "barrage of questioning" from local politicians.^[2]

Overall, interest in the election of 1930 was low, in part because of the worsening economic situation faced by Hamiltonians due to the Great Depression. The Hamilton Spectator reported that less than 30 people attended the traditional post-nomination speeches by candidates at city hall.^[2]

Mayor

"Last, but not least, we must congratulate Mayor Peebles on the signal honour accorded him. Of course, it was never expected that any one would contest the mayoralty this year. Not only is it an unwritten law that a mayor must have a second term unopposed, but his worship has displayed so much acumen and foresight in his conduct of civic affairs during one of the worst periods of the city's history, that there is a general feeling that no other hand but his could as successfully pilot the civic ship out of the shoals of depression."

^[3]

Mayor John Peebles, who had been acclaimed to his first term in 1929, was returned to a second-term by acclamation once more in 1930. In his nomination speech, Peebles spoke at length about the successes of his administration over the previous year, including the opening of McMaster University in Hamilton, improvements to the city's waterworks, and new facilities for the Canadian National Railway.^[4] In their summary of the city's nominations, the Spectator noted that "no other hand but [Peebles'] could as successfully pilot the civic ship out of the shoals of depression."^[3]

Summary of the December 1, 1930 Hamilton, Ontario Mayoral Election
Candidate		Affiliation	Popular vote
Candidate		Affiliation	Votes	%	±%
	John Peebles(incumbent)	Independent	Acclaimed
Total votes			n/a	n/a
Registered voters			n/a	n/a	n/a
Note: Candidate campaign colours are used as a visual differentiation between candidates and to indicate affiliation.
Sources: "Sam R. Manson is real dark horse", Hamilton Spectator, Friday, November 21, 1930, pg. 7.

Board of Control

Summary of the December 1, 1930 Hamilton, Ontario Board of Control Election
Candidate		Affiliation	Popular vote
Candidate		Affiliation	Votes	%	±%
	Sam Manson	Independent	15,413	n/a	n/a
	Donald MacFarlane(incumbent)	Independent Conservative	14,866	n/a	n/a
	Cranmer Riselay	Independent	13,033	n/a	n/a
	Sam Lawrence(incumbent)	Independent Labour Party	12,639	n/a	n/a
	John Henry Ball	Independent	12,302	n/a	n/a
	Thomas O'Heir	Independent	7,235	n/a	n/a
Total votes			n/a	n/a
Registered voters			n/a	n/a	n/a
Note: Candidate campaign colours are used as a visual differentiation between candidates and to indicate affiliation.
Sources: "Board of Control Summary", Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, December 2, 1930, pp. 10.

Aldermen

Ward One

Summary of the December 1, 1930 Hamilton, Ontario Ward One Aldermanic Election
Candidate		Affiliation	Popular vote
Candidate		Affiliation	Votes	%	±%
	William MacFarland(incumbent)	Independent	3,601	n/a	n/a
	Herbert Wilton	Independent	2,055	n/a	n/a
	Fred Brooks	Independent	1,903	n/a	n/a
Total votes			n/a	n/a
Registered voters			n/a	n/a	n/a
Note: Candidate campaign colours are used as a visual differentiation between candidates and to indicate affiliation.
Sources: "How Aldermanic Candidates Ran", Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, December 2, 1930, pp. 10.

Ward Two

Summary of the December 1, 1930 Hamilton, Ontario Ward Two Aldermanic Election
Candidate		Affiliation	Popular vote
Candidate		Affiliation	Votes	%	±%
	Thomas Wright(incumbent)	Independent	1,834	n/a	n/a
	Gordon Flett(incumbent)	Independent	1,719	n/a	n/a
	William Ainsley	Independent Liberal	1,508	n/a	n/a
Total votes			n/a	n/a
Registered voters			n/a	n/a	n/a
Note: Candidate campaign colours are used as a visual differentiation between candidates and to indicate affiliation.
Sources: "How Aldermanic Candidates Ran", Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, December 2, 1930, pp. 10.

Ward Three

Summary of the December 1, 1930 Hamilton, Ontario Ward Three Aldermanic Election
Candidate		Affiliation	Popular vote
Candidate		Affiliation	Votes	%	±%
	William Hutton(incumbent)	Independent	2,369	n/a	n/a
	D'Arcy Argue Martin(incumbent)	Independent	2,313	n/a	n/a
	Austin Macaulay	Independent	1,264	n/a	n/a
	Henry Bush	Independent	604	n/a	n/a
Total votes			n/a	n/a
Registered voters			n/a	n/a	n/a
Note: Candidate campaign colours are used as a visual differentiation between candidates and to indicate affiliation.
Sources: "How Aldermanic Candidates Ran", Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, December 2, 1930, pp. 10.

Ward Four

Summary of the December 1, 1930 Hamilton, Ontario Ward Four Aldermanic Election
Candidate		Affiliation	Popular vote
Candidate		Affiliation	Votes	%	±%
	William Thompson(incumbent)	Independent	1,284	n/a	n/a
	Arthur Davidson	Independent	1,194	n/a	n/a
	George Hancock	Independent	1,191	n/a	n/a
	Peter Cheeseman	Independent	822	n/a	n/a
	Percy Wright	Independent	448	n/a	n/a
	Harry Penton	Independent Labour Party	393	n/a	n/a
	Frederick Flatman	Independent	153	n/a	n/a
	Henry Roberts	Independent	141	n/a	n/a
Total votes			n/a	n/a
Registered voters			n/a	n/a	n/a
Note: Candidate campaign colours are used as a visual differentiation between candidates and to indicate affiliation.
Sources: "How Aldermanic Candidates Ran", Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, December 2, 1930, pp. 10.

Ward Five

Summary of the December 1, 1930 Hamilton, Ontario Ward Five Aldermanic Election
Candidate		Affiliation	Popular vote
Candidate		Affiliation	Votes	%	±%
	John Sherring(incumbent)	Independent	1,500	n/a	n/a
	Charles Aitchison(incumbent)	Independent Labour Party	1,482	n/a	n/a
	Albert Marck	Independent	993	n/a	n/a
	Michael Cummings	Independent	490	n/a	n/a
	Fred Amos	Independent	293	n/a	n/a
Total votes			n/a	n/a
Registered voters			n/a	n/a	n/a
Note: Candidate campaign colours are used as a visual differentiation between candidates and to indicate affiliation.
Sources: "How Aldermanic Candidates Ran", Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, December 2, 1930, pp. 10.

Ward Six

Summary of the December 2, 1930 Hamilton, Ontario Ward Six Aldermanic Election
Candidate		Affiliation	Popular vote
Candidate		Affiliation	Votes	%	±%
	Archie Pollock(incumbent)	Independent Labour Party	2,030	n/a	n/a
	John Hodgson(incumbent)	Independent	1,669	n/a	n/a
	Vernon Barker	Independent	1,035	n/a	n/a
	Charles Avery	Independent	339	n/a	n/a
	William Wardley	Independent	294	n/a	n/a
Total votes			n/a	n/a
Registered voters			n/a	n/a	n/a
Note: Candidate campaign colours are used as a visual differentiation between candidates and to indicate affiliation.
Sources: "How Aldermanic Candidates Ran", Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, December 2, 1930, pp. 10.

Ward Seven

Summary of the December 1, 1930 Hamilton, Ontario Ward Seven Aldermanic Election
Candidate		Affiliation	Popular vote
Candidate		Affiliation	Votes	%	±%
	Samuel Clarke(incumbent)	Independent Labour Party	2,091	n/a	n/a
	Archie Burton(incumbent)	Independent	1,694	n/a	n/a
	Paul Oliveri	Independent	600	n/a	n/a
	William Patterson	Independent	365	n/a	n/a
Total votes			n/a	n/a
Registered voters			n/a	n/a	n/a
Note: Candidate campaign colours are used as a visual differentiation between candidates and to indicate affiliation.
Sources: "How Aldermanic Candidates Ran", Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, December 2, 1930, pp. 10.

Ward Eight

Summary of the December 5, 1932 Hamilton, Ontario Ward Eight Aldermanic Election
Candidate		Affiliation	Popular vote
Candidate		Affiliation	Votes	%	±%
	John Mitchell(incumbent)	Independent Labour Party	3,331	n/a	n/a
	James Reed	Independent Labour Party	2,203	n/a	n/a
	Archie Burton (incumbent)	Policy for 1933	2,089	n/a	n/a
	James Walker	Communist Party	1,288	n/a	n/a
	Nathaniel Moore	Independent	853	n/a	n/a
Total votes			n/a	n/a
Registered voters			n/a	n/a	n/a
Note: Candidate campaign colours are used as a visual differentiation between candidates and to indicate affiliation.
Sources: "How Aldermanic Candidates Ran", Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, December 6, 1932, pp. 16.

Board of education

Ward One

Summary of the December 1, 1930
Hamilton, Ontario Board of Education Ward One Trustee election
Candidate		Affiliation	Popular vote
Candidate		Affiliation	Votes	%	±%
	George Cameron Gage(incumbent)	Independent	3,595	80.2%	n/a
	George Thornewell	Independent Labour Party	887	19.8%	n/a
Total votes			4,482	n/a
Registered voters			n/a	n/a	n/a
Note: Candidate campaign colours are used as a visual differentiation between candidates and to indicate affiliation.
Sources: "School Trustees", Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, December 2, 1930, pg. 10.

Ward Two

Summary of the December 1, 1930
Hamilton, Ontario Board of Education Ward Two Trustee election
Candidate		Affiliation	Popular vote
Candidate		Affiliation	Votes	%	±%
	Dr. J. W. Bell	Independent	Acclaimed
Total votes			n/a	n/a
Registered voters			n/a	n/a	n/a
Note: Candidate campaign colours are used as a visual differentiation between candidates and to indicate affiliation.
Sources: "School Trustees", Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, December 2, 1930, pg. 10.

Ward Three

Summary of the December 1, 1930
Hamilton, Ontario Board of Education Ward Three Trustee election
Candidate		Affiliation	Popular vote
Candidate		Affiliation	Votes	%	±%
	George Ballard	Independent	Acclaimed
Total votes			n/a	n/a
Registered voters			n/a	n/a	n/a
Note: Candidate campaign colours are used as a visual differentiation between candidates and to indicate affiliation.
Sources: "School Trustees", Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, December 2, 1930, pg. 10.

Ward Four

Summary of the December 1, 1930
Hamilton, Ontario Board of Education Ward Four Trustee election
Candidate		Affiliation	Popular vote
Candidate		Affiliation	Votes	%	±%
	Emerson Mealley	Independent	Acclaimed
Total votes			n/a	n/a
Registered voters			n/a	n/a	n/a
Note: Candidate campaign colours are used as a visual differentiation between candidates and to indicate affiliation.
Sources: "School Trustees", Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, December 2, 1930, pg. 10.

Ward Five

Summary of the December 1, 1930
Hamilton, Ontario Board of Education Ward Five Trustee election
Candidate		Affiliation	Popular vote
Candidate		Affiliation	Votes	%	±%
	Thomas Binkley(incumbent)	Independent	1,418	61.76%	n/a
	Charles Levinson	Independent	878	38.24%	n/a
Total votes			2,296	n/a
Registered voters			n/a	n/a	n/a
Note: Candidate campaign colours are used as a visual differentiation between candidates and to indicate affiliation.
Sources: "School Trustees", Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, December 2, 1930, pg. 10.

Ward Six

Summary of the December 1, 1930
Hamilton, Ontario Board of Education Ward Six Trustee election
Candidate		Affiliation	Popular vote
Candidate		Affiliation	Votes	%	±%
	Frank Robbins	Independent	Acclaimed
Total votes			n/a	n/a
Registered voters			n/a	n/a	n/a
Note: Candidate campaign colours are used as a visual differentiation between candidates and to indicate affiliation.
Sources: "School Trustees", Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, December 2, 1930, pg. 10.

Ward Seven

Summary of the December 1, 1930
Hamilton, Ontario Board of Education Ward Seven Trustee election
Candidate		Affiliation	Popular vote
Candidate		Affiliation	Votes	%	±%
	Orville Walsh	Independent	1,483	58.36%	n/a
	James Reed	Independent Labour Party	1,058	41.64%	n/a
Total votes			2,541	n/a
Registered voters			n/a	n/a	n/a
Note: Candidate campaign colours are used as a visual differentiation between candidates and to indicate affiliation.
Sources: "School Trustees", Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, December 2, 1930, pg. 10.

Ward Eight

Summary of the December 1, 1930
Hamilton, Ontario Board of Education Ward Eight Trustee election
Candidate		Affiliation	Popular vote
Candidate		Affiliation	Votes	%	±%
	Agnes Sharpe	Independent Labour Party	2,375	70.12%	n/a
	Emmett Scarlett	Independent	1,012	29.88%	n/a
Total votes			3,387	n/a
Registered voters			n/a	n/a	n/a
Note: Candidate campaign colours are used as a visual differentiation between candidates and to indicate affiliation.
Sources: "School Trustees", Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, December 2, 1930, pg. 10.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2003 Hamilton, Ontario, municipal election</span> Municipal election

The 2003 Hamilton municipal election was held on November 10, 2003, to elect municipal officials in Hamilton, Ontario. On election day, Hamiltonians elected a mayor, 15 city councillors, and trustees for the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board, Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board, Conseil scolaire Viamonde, and Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir.

Politically, Hamilton is known for producing groundbreaking, colourful and left-wing politicians. Locally, though, the big political stories have included the controversial amalgamation of Hamilton with its suburbs in 2001, the destruction of green space around the Red Hill Valley to make way for the Red Hill Creek Expressway, and plans to build a Light Rail Transit line in the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Hamilton, Ontario, municipal election</span> Municipal election

The 2010 Hamilton municipal election was held on October 25, 2010, to select one mayor, fifteen members of the Hamilton, Ontario City Council and members of both English and French public and Catholic school boards. Nominations opened January 4, 2010, and ran until September 10, 2010.

The 2000 Hamilton municipal election was a municipal election held on November 13, 2000, to elect municipal officials for the City of Hamilton. On election day, Hamiltonians elected a mayor, 15 city councillors, and trustees for the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board, Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board, Conseil scolaire Viamonde, and Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir. This was the first election of the "New" City of Hamilton after the dissolution of the Region of Hamilton-Wentworth and the amalgamation of Dundas, Stoney Creek, Flamborough, Ancaster, Glanbrook, and Waterdown with the existing city of Hamilton.

The Board of Control of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, was a part of its municipal government until it was abolished in 1969. It served as the executive committee of the Toronto City Council. When it was initially created in 1896 by mandate of the provincial government, it consisted of three Controllers appointed from and by the aldermen, and presided over by the Mayor of Toronto. Beginning in 1904, the Board of Control was directly elected by the city's electorate and consisted of four Controllers, presided over by the Mayor. Each voter could vote for up to four candidates, and the four with the most votes were elected. By tradition the controller who received the most votes would get the powerful budget chief position.

Municipal elections were held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on January 1, 1930. In a close mayoral election Bert Wemp ousted two term incumbent Sam McBride. The main issue of the election was a proposed downtown beautification scheme that would have rebuilt roads in the core. The proposal was rejected in a referendum after voters in the suburbs voted against it. McBride was the plan's leading proponent, and its rejection hurt his reelection bid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1997 Hamilton, Ontario, municipal election</span> Canadian municipal election

The 1997 Hamilton municipal election was a municipal election held on November 10, 1997, to elect municipal officials for the City of Hamilton. Hamiltonions selected one mayor, one regional chairperson, and seventeen members of the Hamilton City Council, who were elected on a two-tier basis, as well as members of both the English and French Public and Catholic School Boards. The suburban communities of Ancaster, Flambrough, Glanbrook, Dundas and Stoney Creek, each elected town councils for the last time before amalgamation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1994 Hamilton, Ontario, municipal election</span> Canadian municipal election

The 1994 Hamilton municipal election was a municipal election held on November 14, 1994, to elect municipal officials for the City of Hamilton. Hamiltonions selected one mayor, one regional chairman, and sixteen alderman to the Hamilton City Council, as well as members of both English and French Public and Catholic School Boards. Voters in the municipality also had the opportunity to cast a ballot for the Regional Chairman of the Hamilton-Wentworth region.

The 1944 Hamilton municipal election was held on December 4, 1944 to select one Mayor, four Controllers, and sixteen members of the Hamilton, Ontario City Council. Voters also elected one member per-ward to the local Public School Board for a two-year term.

The 1946 Hamilton municipal election was held on December 9, 1946, to select one Mayor, four Controllers, and sixteen members of the Hamilton, Ontario City Council, as well as members of the local Board of Education. Held immediately following the 1946 Stelco strike, the election set a record for voter turnout, with 65.1% of eligible voters casting a ballot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Hamilton, Ontario, municipal election</span> Municipal election

The 2014 Hamilton municipal election was a municipal election that occurred on October 27, 2014, to select one mayor, fifteen members of the Hamilton City Council and members of both English and French Public and Catholic School Boards. As per the Ontario Municipal Elections Act, nominations opened on January 2, 2014, and closed on September 12, 2014. Four new councillors were elected in open seats across Hamilton while all incumbents who stood for re-election had returned to office. Though marked by a steep decline in voter turnout, this election was historic, as it saw the election of Hamiton's first openly gay and first racialized members of city council.

The 1950 Hamilton municipal election was held on December 6, 1950, to select one Mayor, four Controllers, and sixteen members of the Hamilton, Ontario City Council, as well as members of the local Board of Education. In addition, this election was accompanied by six referendums, each dealing with a major issue in the city at the time.

The government of Los Angeles operates as a charter city under the charter of the City of Los Angeles. The elected government is composed of the Los Angeles City Council with 15 city council districts and the mayor of Los Angeles, which operate under a mayor–council government, as well as several other elective offices. Under the California Constitution, all judicial, school, county, and city offices, including those of chartered cities, are nonpartisan. The current mayor is Karen Bass, the current city attorney is Hydee Feldstein Soto and the current city controller is Kenneth Mejia.

The 1932 Hamilton municipal election was held on December 5, 1932 to select one Mayor, four Controllers, and sixteen members of the Hamilton, Ontario City Council, two from each of the city's eight wards. Voters also cast ballots for trustees for the public school board.

The 1933 Hamilton municipal election was held on December 4, 1933 to select one Mayor, four Controllers, and sixteen members of the Hamilton, Ontario City Council, two from each of the city's eight wards. Voters also cast ballots for trustees for the public school board.

The 1934 Hamilton municipal election was held on December 3, 1934, to select one Mayor, four Controllers, and sixteen members of the Hamilton, Ontario City Council, two from each of the city's eight wards. Voters also cast ballots for trustees for the public school board.

The 2018 Hamilton municipal election was a municipal election that occurred on October 22, 2018, as per the Ontario Municipal Elections Act, 1996. Residents of Hamilton selected one mayor, members of the Hamilton City Council, and members of both the English and French Public and Catholic School Boards.

Philadelphia's municipal election of November 5, 1957, involved the election of the district attorney, city controller, and the remainder of a term for one city council seat, as well as several row offices and judgeships. Democrats were successful citywide, continuing a run of victories racked up after the passage of a new city charter in 1951 despite growing divisions between factions of the party. Victor H. Blanc, the incumbent district attorney, led the Democratic ticket to victory. They held the city council seat and took two citywide offices that Republicans had won in 1953. In the judges' elections, most were endorsed by both parties but in the one race that pitted a Democratic candidate against a Republican, the Democrats were successful in seating their candidate, former Congressman Earl Chudoff.

The 1927 Hamilton municipal election was held on December 5, 1927 to select one Mayor, one Hydro Commissioner, four Controllers, and sixteen members of the Hamilton, Ontario, City Council, two from each of the city's eight wards. Voters also cast ballots for trustees for the public school board, and in two bylaw referendum questions regarding an expansion to Hamilton's General Hospital and the city's sewer system.

The 1935 Hamilton municipal election was held on December 2, 1935 to select one Mayor, four Controllers, and sixteen members of the Hamilton, Ontario, City Council, two from each of the city's eight wards. Voters also cast ballots for trustees for the public school board, and in three plebiscites that sought to restructure elections for both city council and the public school board.

References

↑ "How Aldermanic Candidates Ran", Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, December 2, 1930, pp. 10.
1 2 3 "Sam R. Manson is real dark horse", Hamilton Spectator, Friday, November 21, 1930, pg. 7.
1 2 "Civic nominations", Hamilton Spectator, Saturday, November 22, 1930, pg. 6.
↑ "Mayor Peeble's nomination address", Hamilton Spectator, Friday, November 21, 1930, pg. 18.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[1] "How Aldermanic Candidates Ran", Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, December 2, 1930, pp. 10.

[Sam_R._Manson_is_real_dark_horse-2] 1 2 3 "Sam R. Manson is real dark horse", Hamilton Spectator, Friday, November 21, 1930, pg. 7.

[Hamilton_Spectator_1930,_pg._6-3] 1 2 "Civic nominations", Hamilton Spectator, Saturday, November 22, 1930, pg. 6.

[4] "Mayor Peeble's nomination address", Hamilton Spectator, Friday, November 21, 1930, pg. 18.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

1930 Hamilton, Ontario, municipal election

Contents

Campaign

Mayor

Board of Control

Aldermen

Ward One

Ward Two

Ward Three

Ward Four

Ward Five

Ward Six

Ward Seven

Ward Eight

Board of education

Ward One

Ward Two

Ward Three

Ward Four

Ward Five

Ward Six

Ward Seven

Ward Eight

Related Research Articles

References