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 City 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.
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):
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]
The election was held 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]
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]
The 2010 election was held on October 25, 2010.[25] This was the first election in Richmond Hill where the ballots were tabulated electronically instead of manually.[26] Issues in the election included regional transit planning (e.g. VIVA rapidways, Line 1 Yonge extension), the future of the David Dunlap Observatory, and debt in York Region.[27][28]
The 2022 mayoral by-election was held on January 18-24, 2022. City council passed By-Law 133-21 on October 13, 2021 authorizing the use of internet voting to accommodate voters for the by-election during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Then incumbent mayor Dave Barrow went on indefinite medical leave on February 24, 2021, leaving city council with 8 voting members.[32] According to local media reports, this left city council frequently gridlocked, as there was no leader in council and council votes would often end in a tie. City council meetings were characterized as "dysfunctional", where members would divulge into squabbling and name-calling.[33]
Barrow returned to preside over a special council meeting on September 8, 2021 regarding the future of the governance of council given the inefficiencies during his absence. Four councillors left the meeting in protest before it was adjourned.[34][35] On September 15, 2021, Barrow retired as mayor.[36]
On September 29, 2021, city council agreed to hold a by-election to fill the mayor's vacant seat instead of appointing a mayor.[37]
^Robert M. Stamp (1991). "The First Village Council". Fire Brigades and Fence Viewers. Town of Richmond Hill Public Library.
^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. ISSN0319-0714.
^Victoria Stevens (November 13, 1985). "2 mayoralty upsets in York region but most incumbents back in office". Toronto Star. pp. B.8. ISSN0319-0781.
^"MUNICIPAL RESULTS". The Globe and Mail. November 16, 1988. pp. A 16. ISSN0319-0714.
^Rudy Platiel (November 15, 1988). "Easy wins, surprise upsets recorded". The Globe and Mail. pp. A 18.
^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. ISSN0319-0714.
^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.
4.47pp)