1914 Calgary municipal election
The 1914 Calgary municipal election took place on December 14, 1914 to elect a Mayor to a one year term and six Aldermen on a two-year term, to sit on the thirtieth Calgary City Council.[1] Additionally a Commissioner, members for the Public School Board, members for the Separate School Board, two borrowing bylaws and a plebiscite on church taxation were included on the ballot.
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There were six Alderman positions contested for a two-year term for the election as Edward Henry Crandell, Harold William Hounsfield Riley, Stanley Gordon Freeze, Thomas Alfred Presswood Frost, and William Ross Sr. were elected for two-year terms in 1913.
Background
The election was held under multiple non-transferable vote where each elector was able to cast a ballot for the mayor, commissioner and six ballots for Aldermen who were elected at-large with the city as one large district. Half of Calgary's twelve Aldermen were elected to two year terms each year.
Three votes on a question were present during the election, two borrowing bylaws to purchase the stockyards for $240,000 and contraction of a Fourth Street West subway below the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks for $195,147 both failed to garner the two-thirds support necessary. A Plebiscite on the taxation of church property failed to garner the required support of half of voters.[2]
Voting franchise was open to all men or women listed on the City's assessment roll with real property valued over $400.[3]
A single one-year Alderman position was opened on Council following Costello's resignation half way through his two year term to run for Mayor. The one-year Alderman term was to be a separate ballot, however on nomination day on December 7, 1914, Douglas Ralph Crichton was the only candidate to file a nomination for the position. Crichton was subsequently elected by acclimation for the one-year term.[4]
Results
Mayor
| Candidate | Votes | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Copps Costello | 4,019 | |
| William George Hunt | 2,219 | |
| Alexander Allan | 820 | |
Commissioner
| Candidate | Votes | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| James Hay Garden | 3,923 | |
| Adoniram Judson Samis | 3,057 | |
Councillors
| Candidate | Votes | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Isaac Gideon Ruttle | 4,536 | |
| James Abel Hornby | 4,486 | |
| John Leslie Jennison | 4,361 | |
| John William Mitchell | 4,460 | |
| Arthur Walter Ellson Fawkes | 3,977 | |
| John Sidney Arnold | 3,820 | |
| George J. Bryan | 3,676 | |
| S.J. Blair | 2,635 | |
| James Smalley | 2,899 | |
| J. Rae | 2,772 | |
| Robert John Tallon | 2,763 | |
School board trustee
Public school board
| Candidate | Votes | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| John Thomas MacDonald | 4,578 | |
| George William Kerby | 4,233 | |
| William McCartney Davidson | 4,007 | |
| J.H. Birch | 3,729 | |
| Alex Ross | 3,504 | |
| James A. Walker | 2,922 | |
| Robert Eldon Campbell | 2,820 | |
| James Short | 2,386 | |
| J. Webster | 1,432 | |
Separate school board
| Candidate | Votes | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| J.B. Creagon | 330 | |
| George Demetrio Venini | 235 | |
| F.J. Conroy | 182 | |
| G.J. Calhoun | ||
Plebiscite
Stockyard purchase
Bylaw proposing to purchase the stockyards for $240,000, requiring two-thirds of eligible voters.
- For - 2,655
- Against - 2,165
Fourth street subway
Construction of a subway below the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks at Fourth Street West for $195,147, requiring two-thirds of eligible voters.
- For - 2,769
- Against - 2,049
Taxation of church property
Plebiscite on taxation of church property, requiring a majority of eligible electors.
- For - 2,867
- Against - 3,571
See also
References
- "Costello and Garden Sweep City in Municipal Contest---Heavy Vote is Polled". Calgary Herald. December 15, 1914. p. 9. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
- "Money Bylaws and Taxation of Church Property are Defeated". Calgary Herald. December 15, 1914. p. 9. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- "Those Entitled to Vote Today". Calgary Herald. December 14, 1914. p. 1. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- "No Surprises at the Civic Nomination". Calgary Herald. December 7, 1914. p. 1. Retrieved March 4, 2021.