1985 Hamilton, Ontario municipal election

The 1985 Hamilton municipal election was held on November 12, 1985 to elect a Mayor, sixteen members to Hamilton, Ontario City Council, fourteen members to the Hamilton Board of Education and sixteen members to the Hamilton-Wentworth Roman Catholic Separate School Board. In addition, this election was accompanied by a referendum question asking voters if they wanted to directly elect individuals to the office of Regional Chairman.[1]

1985 Hamilton municipal election
November 12, 1985
 
Candidate Bob Morrow (Incumbent) Jim Campbell Marvin Sommer
Party Independent Independent Independent
Popular vote 51,305 31,956 3,650
Percentage 59.03% 36.77% 4.20%
Mayor before election

Robert Morrow
Independent

 Elected Mayor

Robert Morrow
Independent

Campaign

The 1985 municipal election campaign came in the wake of the year's earlier provincial election that saw a Liberal minority government, supported by the Ontario NDP, come to power after the swift defeat of Frank Miller's Progressive Conservatives in a confidence motion in the weeks following the vote.

The change in government had impacted the city's local politics, as Premier Miller had vowed to extend GO Train commuter rail service to the city and supported the rapid transit GO-ALRT project. Following the election of the Liberals, both GO-ALRT and extended GO service to Hamilton were cancelled. Due to the fluctuating transit situation in the area, candidates ran on platforms that, in some way, addressed transit.[2]

Prior to the 1985 vote, an advocacy group calling itself Concerned Citizens for Hamilton (CCH) formed to endorse candidates for office with a pro-business perspective. CCH solicited donations, eventually collecting approximated $25,000 to support candidates through third-party advertisements.[3] The group's donations came under fire when the advertisements they printed in the Hamilton Spectator were investigated by the city as potentially contravening the Hamilton's election financing bylaw. Ultimately, CCH was cleared of any wrongdoing by the city.[4] Though CCH solicited donations and campaigned on behalf of candidates, members denied they were a political party and lamented the fact they needed to organize. The organizers noted the 1985 vote was the most important in the city since the election of 1949 and one commented to the Hamilton Spectator that the organization was necessary to protect the city, adding "I hope we never have to do this again. This time was an exceptional circumstance."[3]

Referendum
 
Hamilton, Ontario Municipal Election
1985 Regional Chairman referendum
Question Yes No
Votes%Votes%
Are you in favour of direct-elections for the office of Hamilton-Wentworth Regional Chairman?77,99185.713,01314.3
Total votes 91,005
Registered voters 229,741
Sources: Estok, David. "Voters want to elected regional leadership", Hamilton Spectator, Wednesday, November 13, 1985, A6.

Mayoral Election

The 1985 mayoral contest saw incumbent Mayor Bob Morrow, then 39, defend his three-year administration under the pressure of the lingering economic recession that had decimated the city's steel industry. By the election campaign, the city's unemployment rate had dropped to 5.8% and Morrow campaigned on his record of attracting new jobs to the region. Additionally, Morrow sought to expand GO Transit service to the city and bring more suburban services under the central administration of the municipality.[5] Unlike during his first campaign, Morrow was endorsed by the Hamilton Spectator.[6]

Morrow faced two challengers: former Board of Control member Jim Campbell and small business owner Marvin Sommer. Campbell, who retired from council in 1976, had sought political comebacks in 1980 and 1982, running for Ward 1 and Ward 7 councillor respectively. Campbell, then 64, was a millionaire who operated a concrete manufacturing plant on Hamilton mountain who campaigned on a small-business platform. Seeking a completion to the Red Hill Valley Expressway and a perimeter road to create a highway ring-road around Hamilton, Campbell proposed to tackle unemployment by creating a mayor's advisory panel consisting of local business and labour leaders. He additionally proposed reinstating the abolished Board of Control and reducing council's term of office to two years.[7]

Sommer, a 49-year old James Street merchant at the time of the election, also ran on a pro-business platform, though promoted few specific policies. In an interview with a Spectator reporter, Sommer admitted he had not paid business taxes to the city in two years and his business was in danger of being shut down.[8]

The campaign generate a moderate amount of interest among members of the electorate. At a CHCH-TV-sponsored call-in debate, only six local residents telephoned with questions for the candidates.[9]

On election night, Morrow topped the polls, holding a lead of over 19,000 votes on Campbell.[10]

 Summary of the November 12, 1985 Hamilton, Ontario Mayoral Election
Candidate Popular vote
Votes % ±%
Robert Morrow (incumbent) 51,305 59.03% +28.02
Jim Campbell 31,956 36.77% n/a
Marvin Sommer 3,650 4.20% n/a
Total votes 86,911 37.83%
Registered voters 229,741 100%
Note 1: All Hamilton Municipal Elections are officially non-partisan.
Note 2: Candidate campaign colours are based on the prominent colour used in campaign items (signs, literature, etc.)
and are used as a visual differentiation between candidates.
Sources: Estok, David. "'Nice guy' Bob Morrow jubilant", The Hamilton Spectator, November 13, 1985, News, A6.

City Council Election

Ward One (Chedoke-Cootes)

The race for Ward One alderman was the third time in as many years that electors would go to the polls to select a new member of city council. In early 1985, incumbent alderman Peter Peterson was elected to the Ontario legislature as a Progressive Conservative, triggering a by-election in which former alderman Paul Drage recaptured a seat on council.[2] This came after his loss to Peterson and Mary Kiss in 1982, after capturing the seat vacated after his wife and the area's alderman, Kay Drage, died in 1979.[11]

Drage and Kiss campaigned on their record of standing in opposition to the city's proposed GO-ALRT plan due to proposals that would have expropriated property along York Boulevard in the ward's north end. As sitting members of council, they instead rested their transit hopes on the promise of expanded GO Train service.[2]

Drage, 61 at the time of the election, stood on a platform called for an expansion of the area's highways, including completing the Red Hill Valley Expressway and the mid-mountain expressway, as well as advocating for more supermarkets in the area. Kiss, who refused to give her age to the Hamilton Spectator, opposed GO Transit expansion and promoted investment in local industry.[2]

Terry Cooke, a candidate in the by-election that occurred earlier in the year, promoted a rapid transit link to Toronto using existing heavy rail infrastructure and advocated reinstating the Board of Control. Joanne Gallacher, a 31-year-old business owner, promoted a rapid transit solution and improvements to the city's bayfront. David Gava, a 22-year-old student, called for dismantling regional government and improving rental accommodations. Two law-enforcement officials, 54-year-old Frank Preston and Victor Zwirewich, 61 at the time of the vote, both ran on conservative platforms, with Preston calling for an end to city council 'freeloading' and Zwirewich promoting a law-and-order platform.[2]

The Hamilton Spectator endorsed Cooke and Zwirewich for the two aldermanic positions.[12] Cooke was CCH's preferred candidate for election.[13]

 Summary of the November 12, 1985 Hamilton, Ontario Ward One Alderman Election
Candidate Popular vote Elected?
Votes %
Terry Cooke 5,970 55.79%
Mary Kiss (incumbent) 4,384 40.97%
Paul Drage (incumbent) 3,410 31.87%
Vic Zwirewich 2,822 26.37%
Joanne Gallacher 1,053 9.84%
Frank Preston 587 5.80%
David Gava 481 4.76%
Total votes 10,701
Registered voters 28,533 37.50%
Note 1: Each ward elected two aldermen and percentages are specific to each candidate, not for the overall total.
Note 2: All Hamilton Municipal Elections are officially non-partisan.
Note 3: Candidate campaign colours are based on the prominent colour used in campaign items (signs, literature, etc.)
and are used as a visual differentiation between candidates.
Sources: Coutts, Jane. "Result in Ward 1 seen as strong call for change", Hamilton Spectator,
November 13, 1985, A7.

Ward Two (Downtown)
 Summary of the November 12, 1985 Hamilton, Ontario Ward Two Alderman Election
Candidate Popular vote Elected?
Votes %
Vince Agro (incumbent) 3,998
Bill McCulloch (incumbent) 3,407
John Roy 2,086
William Laidlaw 1,647
Peter Rhodes 1,363
Catherine Macinnis 1,363
Joe Chiarelli 589
Jim Travale 3,94
John McCabe 212
Total votes
Registered voters 28,834
Note 1: Each ward elected two aldermen and percentages are specific to each candidate, not for the overall total.
Note 2: All Hamilton Municipal Elections are officially non-partisan.
Note 3: Candidate campaign colours are based on the prominent colour used in campaign items (signs, literature, etc.)
and are used as a visual differentiation between candidates.
Sources: MacNeil, Mark. "Agro, McCulloch buck the trend for change", Hamilton Spectator,
November 13, 1985, News, A7.

Ward Three (Hamilton Centre)
 Summary of the November 12, 1985 Hamilton, Ontario Ward Three Alderman Election
Candidate Popular vote Elected?
Votes %
Pat Valeriano 5,169
Brian Hinkley (incumbent) 4,318
Mike Davidson 4,084
Don Drury 2,603
Peter Boldrini 1,890
Bill Dickens 1,052
Frank MacDonald 547
Caesar Tam 317
Total votes
Registered voters 30,317
Note 1: Each ward elected two aldermen and percentages are specific to each candidate, not for the overall total.
Note 2: All Hamilton Municipal Elections are officially non-partisan.
Note 3: Candidate campaign colours are based on the prominent colour used in campaign items (signs, literature, etc.)
and are used as a visual differentiation between candidates.
Sources: Porter, Brian. "Valeriano stages comeback", Hamilton Spectator,
November 13, 1985, A7.

Ward Four (East Hamilton)
 Summary of the November 12, 1985 Hamilton, Ontario Ward Four Alderman Election
Candidate Popular vote Elected?
Votes %
Geraldine Copps 5,992 48.33%
David Christopherson 4,958 40%
Don Gray (incumbent) 3,069 24.75%
Vince Scott (incumbent) 2,883 23.25%
John Ellis 2,373 19.14%
Gaspare Bonomo 878 7.08%
Larry Wheaton 535 4.32%
Bob Fanjoy 289 2.33%
Total votes 12,398
Registered voters
Note 1: Each ward elected two aldermen and percentages are specific to each candidate, not for the overall total.
Note 2: All Hamilton Municipal Elections are officially non-partisan.
Note 3: Candidate campaign colours are based on the prominent colour used in campaign items (signs, literature, etc.)
and are used as a visual differentiation between candidates.
Sources: Wilson, Paul. "That old Copps magic still works", Hamilton Spectator,
November 13, 1985, A7.

Ward Five (Red Hill)
 Summary of the November 12, 1985 Hamilton, Ontario Ward Five Alderman Election
Candidate Popular vote Elected?
Votes %
Shirley Collins (incumbent) 6,238
Reg Wheeler 3,608
Fred Lombardo (incumbent) 2,439
Mark Campbell 1,588
Ralph Musitano 1,421
Tom Rusich 1,377
Ozzie Ferguson 572
Total votes
Registered voters
Note 1: Each ward elected two aldermen and percentages are specific to each candidate, not for the overall total.
Note 2: All Hamilton Municipal Elections are officially non-partisan.
Note 3: Candidate campaign colours are based on the prominent colour used in campaign items (signs, literature, etc.)
and are used as a visual differentiation between candidates.
Sources: Pettapiece, Mike. "Collins won the most votes of any alderman", Hamilton Spectator,
November 13, 1985, A7.

Ward Six (East Mountain)
 Summary of the November 12, 1985 Hamilton, Ontario Ward Six Alderman Election
Candidate Popular vote Elected?
Votes %
John Smith 5,718
Paul Cowell (incumbent) 5,320
Tom Jackson 4,384
David Bach 2,153
Bob Fasching 1,754
Vince Formosi 1,655
Fred White 437
Gerald Marchildon 289
Total votes
Registered voters 27,735
Note 1: Each ward elected two aldermen and percentages are specific to each candidate, not for the overall total.
Note 2: All Hamilton Municipal Elections are officially non-partisan.
Note 3: Candidate campaign colours are based on the prominent colour used in campaign items (signs, literature, etc.)
and are used as a visual differentiation between candidates.
Sources: Howard, Rob. "John Smith back after 18-year absence", Hamilton Spectator, November 13, 1985, A7.

Ward Seven (Central Mountain)
 Summary of the November 12, 1985 Hamilton, Ontario Ward Seven Alderman Election
Candidate Popular vote Elected?
Votes %
John Gallagher 5,574
Henry Merling (incumbent) 5,224
Ken Edge 4,755
Bruce Charlton (incumbent) 4,341
Steven Cooper 1,285
Danny Stanidis 459
Fred Jongeling 438
Total votes
Registered voters
Note 1: Each ward elected two aldermen and percentages are specific to each candidate, not for the overall total.
Note 2: All Hamilton Municipal Elections are officially non-partisan.
Note 3: Candidate campaign colours are based on the prominent colour used in campaign items (signs, literature, etc.)
and are used as a visual differentiation between candidates.
Sources: Von Appen, Kevin. "Victorious barber will take polls on issues", Hamilton Spectator, November 13, 1985, A7.

Ward Eight (West Mountain)
 Summary of the November 12, 1985 Hamilton, Ontario Ward Eight Alderman Election
Candidate Popular vote Elected?
Votes %
Tom Murray(incumbent) 4,883 41.12%
Don Ross 4,419 37.21%
Jim Bethune (incumbent) 4,291 36.14%
Vince Curtis 2,696 22.7%
Bruce Aikman 2,536 21.36%
Lorna Kippen 1,892 15.93%
Total votes 11,875 41.88%
Registered voters 28,354
Note 1: Each ward elected two aldermen and percentages are specific to each candidate, not for the overall total.
Note 2: All Hamilton Municipal Elections are officially non-partisan.
Note 3: Candidate campaign colours are based on the prominent colour used in campaign items (signs, literature, etc.)
and are used as a visual differentiation between candidates.
Sources: Dreschel, Andrew. "Newcomer Don Ross upsets veteran Jim Bethune", Hamilton Spectator, November 13, 1985, A7.
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See also

References
  1. Rogers, Jerry. "Voters vent their fury," Hamilton Spectator, Wednesday, November 13, 1985, A1.
  2. Coutts, Jane. "Street, rail issues concern voters in city's west end," Hamilton Spectator, November 5, 1985, D3.
  3. Rogers, Jerry and Paul Benedetti. "CCH will disband after vote," Hamilton Spectator, November 11, 1985, A8.
  4. "CCH relieved ad ruled not a donation," Hamilton Spectator, November 7, 1985, A8.
  5. Davie, Michael. "Morrow proud of Hamilton's growth under his leadership," Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, November 5, 1985, D2.
  6. "The choice for mayor," Hamilton Spectator, Wednesday, November 6, 1985, A10.
  7. Davie, Michael. "Former council heavyweight squaring off for comeback," Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, November 5, 1985, D2.
  8. Benedetti, Paul. "Mayoral candidate concerned about small businessman," Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, November 5, 1985, D2.
  9. Doyle, Tim. "Election '85 Notebook: Mayoralty debate draws little interest," Hamilton Spectator, Monday, November 11, 1985.
  10. Estok, David. "'Nice guy' Bob Morrow jubilant," Hamilton Spectator, Wednesday, November 13, 1985, A6.
  11. Kiss marks the finish of Drage's council seat," Hamilton Spectator, November 9, 1982, A8.
  12. "Choice for alderman," Hamilton Spectator, November 7, 1985, A10.
  13. "Select Candidates Endorsed by Concerned Citizens for Hamilton (Ad)", Hamilton Spectator, November 2, 1985, A4.
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