Municipal elections in Richmond Hill, Ontario

Municipal elections in Richmond Hill, Ontario are held every four years, concurrent with other municipal elections in Ontario. Historically, elections were held more often. Elected positions include mayor, regional and local councillor and ward councillors (for six different wards) on the Richmond Hill Town Council, as well as trustees for the York Region District School Board, the York Catholic District School Board and for a Conseillere for the Conseil Scholare de District de Centre SudOuest.

1873 election

The first election in Richmond Hill was held January 6, 1873, just after its incorporation as a village.[1] The campaign focused on the need to build a new high school as the one built in the 1850s was becoming crowded.

Abraham Law, elected the first reeve of Richmond Hill

The vote tallies were (elected candidates bolded):

Reeve Votes Councillors Votes
Abraham Law 56 William Warren 98
Andrew McNair 47 Jacob Brillinger 83
Dr. John Duncumb 5 William Powell 77
David Hopkins 62
James Freek 58
J.R. Arnold 42

1985 election

Concurrent with the 1985 election, two plebiscites were held, one relating to the ward system and one relating to Nuclear-free zones.[2] Voters rejected the new ward system 5057 to 5460 and endorsed the nuclear-free zone declaration 7073 to 3272. Low voter turnout was credited to the poor weather and the lack of a mayoral race.[3]

Mayor Votes Local and Regional Councillor Votes Ward 1 Votes Ward 2 Votes Ward 3 Votes Ward 4 Votes Ward 5 Votes Ward 6 Votes
Al DuffyAccl. Gordon Rowe4890 Tom Simpson681 Doug Smith1455 William F. Bell1042 Gail Blackburn1345 Bob Case1108 Bryon Wilfert810
Lois Hancey6232 Bill Corcoran3468 Frank Gallant1058 Terence Munsey128 Paul Hunter585 Bernie Gaten755 Nick Papa333
David Amos2814 Larry Ashton207 James Justin Hogan106 Gerry O'Donnell313 Frank Cavallo381
Steven Rotman747 John Fearon44 Joe Pacitto151

1988 election

The election was held Monday, November 14, 1988.[4][5] Issues in the election included the rapid building of houses in Richmond Hill which many felt had outpaced the growth of corresponding services.[6] The relationship between the town councillors and developers had also been the subject of controversy.[7]

Mayor Votes Local and Regional Councillor Votes Ward 1 Votes Ward 2 Votes Ward 3 Votes Ward 4 Votes Ward 5 Votes Ward 6 Votes
William Bell8887 Frank Endean6277 Tom Simpson1737 Janet Mabley1901 David Cohen1456 Gail Blackburn2466 Catherine Bishop1907 Bryon Wilfert1479
Al Duffy5386 Lois Hancey6002 Bonnie Tiffin589 Nicholas Legge802 Bronwyn Frazer976 Dennis Chris919 Nick Papa1636 Rosario DeGregorio671
Isabelle Gargarella4811 Linda Christie5940 David Amos530 Terence Munsey433 Nick Negri322
Bill Monroe4407 Joanne Leroux-Willison138 Stephen Kaye350
Robert Cage3749
Larry Ashton1165

1991 election

One of the main issue of the 1991 election was plans to scrap the building of a large civic centre in the downtown area, and instead lease office space in Beaver Creek Industrial Park for that purpose, and build a single purpose library downtown instead of integrating it into a multi-purpose facility.[8]

2003 election

The 2003 election was held on November 12, 2003.

Mayor[9] Votes Local and Regional Councillor Votes Ward 1[10] Votes Ward 2[11] Votes Ward 3[12] Votes Ward 4[13] Votes Ward 5[14] Votes Ward 6[15] Votes
William Bell2373 Vito Spatafora2052 Arnie Warner2027 David Cohen1750 Lynn Foster1830 Elio Di Iorio2420 Joe Di Paola1444
William Lazenby917 Vince Agozzino2006 Gary Schecter614 Agnes Chan-Wong1257 Bruce Gilmour1121 Nick Papa2175 Mike Latour858
Sonny Khan202 Cathy Leung-Rosnuk995 Ali Mian399 Shirley Chan86 Ted Bunker850 Lucy Rosina Cunningham294 Godwin Chan702
Joe Pacitto315 Blair Kingsland107 Ali Zahedi43 Jane Robertson608

2006 election

The election debates centred on urban sprawl, especially with regards to the Oak Ridges Moraine, waste management and urban renewal in the downtown area of Richmond Hill.[16]

Mayor[17] Votes Local and Regional Councillor[18] Votes Ward 1[19] Votes Ward 2[20] Votes Ward 3[21] Votes Ward 4[22] Votes Ward 5[23] Votes Ward 6[24] Votes
Dave Barrow22007 Brenda Hogg15296 Greg Baros1568 Arnie Warner2128 David Cohen2179 Lynn Foster4046 Nick Papa2509 Godwin Chan1627
David McCann2661 Vito Spatafora14536 Carrie Hoffelner1209 Asghar Naqvi1138 Natalie Helferty685 Shiraz Hudda608 Elio di Iorio2480 Michael Latour1292
Anastasios Baxevanidis2276 Joe Di Paola13916 Don Ciccone746 Carmine Perrelli1095 Vik Gandhi436 Marg Aldridge609 Sandra di Iorio1069
Ramon Datol962 Heather Sinclair328 Mike McCallum354 Arif Khan228 Michael McGouran552 Derek Wu614
Adam Dodwell78 D.L. Meitz63 Nancy Storey502 Muhammad Ali303

References

  1. Robert M. Stamp (1991). "The First Village Council". Fire Brigades and Fence Viewers. Town of Richmond Hill Public Library.
  2. Thomas Claridge (November 14, 1985). "Voters return six York Region mayors Aurora results only exception in strong support for incumbents". The Globe and Mail. pp. A24. ISSN 0319-0714.
  3. Victoria Stevens (November 13, 1985). "2 mayoralty upsets in York region but most incumbents back in office". Toronto Star. pp. B.8. ISSN 0319-0781.
  4. "MUNICIPAL RESULTS". The Globe and Mail. November 16, 1988. pp. A 16. ISSN 0319-0714.
  5. Rudy Platiel (November 15, 1988). "Easy wins, surprise upsets recorded". The Globe and Mail. pp. A 18.
  6. Jock Ferguson, Dawn King and Rosemary Todd (November 16, 1988). "York region's new councillors 'no pushover' for developers". The Globe and Mail. pp. A 17. ISSN 0319-0714.
  7. Jock Ferguson and Dawn King (November 15, 1988). "York region voters dump two mayors Jackson easily defeats challengers in Vaughan". The Globe and Mail. pp. A 1.
  8. Marney Beck Robinson and Joan M. Clark (2000). Growing Success. Later Days in Richmond Hill - A History of the Community from 1930 to 1999 (Town of Richmond Hill/Richmond Hill Public Library Board). ISBN 0-9695376-1-1.
  9. Robert Prowse. "Election Results by Polling Station" (PDF). Town of Richmond Hill.
  10. Robert Prowse. "Election Results by Polling Station" (PDF). Town of Richmond Hill.
  11. Robert Prowse. "Election Results by Polling Station" (PDF). Town of Richmond Hill.
  12. Robert Prowse. "Election Results by Polling Station" (PDF). Town of Richmond Hill.
  13. Robert Prowse. "Election Results by Polling Station" (PDF). Town of Richmond Hill.
  14. Robert Prowse. "Election Results by Polling Station" (PDF). Town of Richmond Hill.
  15. Robert Prowse. "Election Results by Polling Station" (PDF). Town of Richmond Hill.
  16. Courtney Paoletti, Andrei Zaretski and Neil Springer. "CBC Toronto - Toronto Votes 2006 - GTA Mayoral Races - Richmond Hill". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2008-02-26.
  17. Robert C. Prowse (November 13, 2006). "Official Results - Office of the Mayor" (PDF). Town of Richmond Hill.
  18. Robert C. Prowse (November 13, 2006). "Official Results - Regional and Local Councillor" (PDF). Town of Richmond Hill.
  19. Robert C. Prowse (November 13, 2006). "Official Results - Ward 1 Councillor" (PDF). Town of Richmond Hill.
  20. Robert C. Prowse (November 13, 2006). "Official Results - Ward 2 Councillor" (PDF). Town of Richmond Hill.
  21. Robert C. Prowse (November 13, 2006). "Official Results - Ward 3 Councillor" (PDF). Town of Richmond Hill.
  22. Robert C. Prowse (November 13, 2006). "Official Results - Ward 4 Councillor" (PDF). Town of Richmond Hill.
  23. Robert C. Prowse (November 13, 2006). "Official Results - Ward 5 Councillor" (PDF). Town of Richmond Hill.
  24. Robert C. Prowse (November 13, 2006). "Official Results - Ward 6 Councillor" (PDF). Town of Richmond Hill.