1934 Calgary municipal election

The 1934 Calgary municipal election was held on November 21, 1934 to elect six Aldermen to sit on Calgary City Council. Along with positions on Calgary City Council, a Commissioner, three trustees for the Public School Board, and two trustees for the Separate School Board.[1] Nominations closed on November 5, 1934.[2]

1934 Calgary municipal election

← 1933 November 21, 1934 1935 →
 
Candidate Andrew Davison
Popular vote Continuing in Office

Mayor before election

Andrew Davison

Elected mayor

Andrew Davison

Calgary City Council governed under "Initiative, Referendum and Recall" which is composed of a Mayor, Commissioner and twelve Aldermen all elected to staggered two year terms. Mayor Andrew Davison and six Aldermen: Joseph Brown Seymour, Alexander John MacMillan, William George Southern, Joseph Hope Ross, Harold William Hounsfield Riley and Robert Henry Weir elected in 1933 continued in their positions.[1]

Background

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The election was held under the Single Transferable Voting/Proportional Representation (STV/PR) with the term for candidates being two years.

The Great Depression played a significant role in the 1934 election as many Calgarians were out of work. A candidate meeting at the Elks Lodge was interrupted by a relief worker who was subsequently arrested by police. Members of the crowd surged towards the gallery in defense of the worker forcing Mayor Davison to end the meeting when he realized order could not be restored.[3]

The Calgary Herald advocated on behalf of the Civic Government Association prior to the election arguing that Labour Aldermen and trustees had failed to effectively run the city.[4]

Results

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Results from Calgary Daily Herald.[5]

Commissioner

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Candidate Votes Percent
Thomas B. Riley 11,063
James T. Burns 8,003
Arthur Garnet Graves 4,210
C.W. Reese 1,436
Fred Nutt 374

Council

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Quota for election was 3,286.

Party Candidate Votes % Count Elected
C.G.A. William Ayer Lincoln 4,336 % 1st  Y
Dominion Labor Fred J. White 4,122 % 1st  Y
C.G.A. Frank Roy Freeze 2,930 %  Y
Independent Robert Henry Parkyn 2,875 %  Y
Dominion Labor Aylmer John Eggert Liesemer 2,288 %  Y
C.G.A. Douglas Cunnington 1,956 %  Y
C.G.A. Pansy Louise Pue 2,026 %
Communist Patrick Douglas Lenihan 1,198 %
C.G.A. Peter Turner Bone 1,141 %
Independent Donald McPherson 800 %
Dominion Labor Fred F. McNeill 681 %
Dominion Labor Charles K. Vernon 619 %
Communist Lawrence Anderson 74 %
Total valid votes

Public School Board

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The quota was 3,053

Candidate Votes Percent count
A.B. Singleton 5,673
Robert Thomas Alderman 5,037
Arthur D. Cumming 3,325
Ernest Henry Starr 2,473
A.T. Spankie 2,463
J.H. Doughty-Davies 2,031
Murdoch Clarke 1,296

Separate school board

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Candidate Votes Percent count
Fred Kenny
Fred Kennedy
C.J. Jones
J.F. Maloney
Fred Peat
Bert Ryan
Charles Thomas

Plebiscites

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Material for Works Program

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Material for works program for unemployed.[6]

  • For - 3,395
  • Against - 4,634

City manager

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An appointed city manager.[6]

  • For - 10,458
  • Against - 12,798

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "C.G.A. Gains Council, School Board Seats". Calgary Daily Herald. November 22, 1934. p. 1. ProQuest 2252817631. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  2. ^ "32 Candidates are Nominated for Election to Civic Posts". Calgary Daily Herald. November 5, 1934. p. 9. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  3. ^ "Unruly Mob Howls Down Election Candidates". Calgary Daily Herald. November 20, 1934. p. 1. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  4. ^ "Opportunity to End Labor Control". Calgary Daily Herald. November 20, 1934. p. 4. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  5. ^ "City Manager Plan and Property Tax Bylaw Turned Down by Voters". Calgary Daily Herald. November 22, 1934. p. 10. ProQuest 2252817880. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  6. ^ a b City of Calgary (1952). Municipal Manual. City of Calgary. p. 71. Retrieved March 9, 2021.