Tony Roman

Not to be confused with Roman Anthony.

Anthony Roman Agr.Sc. (January 17, 1936 – October 30, 1992) was a politician in Ontario, Canada.

The Honourable Anthony Roman
Mayor of Markham, Ontario
In office 1970–1984
Preceded by	Alma Walker
Succeeded by	Carole Bell
Chair of York Region
In office 1984–1984
Preceded by	Robert Forhan
Succeeded by	Eldred R. King
Member of Parliament for York North
In office 1984–1988
Preceded by	John A. Gamble
Succeeded by	Maurizio Bevilacqua
Mayor of Markham, Ontario
In office 1988–1992
Preceded by	Carole Bell
Succeeded by	Frank Scarpitti
Personal details
Born	(1936-01-17)January 17, 1936 Veľký Ruskov, Czechoslovakia
Died	October 30, 1992(1992-10-30) (aged 56) Markham, Ontario, Canada
Political party	Independent
Profession	Businessman

Early years

Roman was born in Velky Ruskov, Czechoslovakia, and eventually settled in Canada. He studied agricultural science and was a businessman before entering politics.

Municipal career

Roman served as the Township Councillor (1966–1968), Mayor of the Town of Markham, Ontario, from 1970 to 1984, Chair of the Regional Municipality of York in 1984.

Provincial politics

Roman was the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party candidate in York Centre in the 1975 Ontario general election, placing second behind Liberal Alfred Stong.

Federal politics

In 1984, Roman was elected as an independent Member of Parliament (MP) for the riding of York North from 1984 to 1988.

Roman won the 1984 election in York North largely because of the controversial views of Progressive Conservative MP John Gamble.

Because the PC and Liberal candidates were unpopular, community leaders asked Roman to stand as a "Coalition Candidate". Roman used the Progressive Conservative blue and Liberal red on his signs, and drew supporters from both parties.

He was one of the very few MPs in recent decades to be elected as an independent candidate in the House of Commons of Canada.

Return to municipal politics

Roman did not seek re-election to the House of Commons in 1988 but instead endorsed Micheal O'Brien as the Progressive Conservative Candidate. O'Brien was one of the community leaders who had convinced Roman to run as a "coalition" independent in 1984. Roman was returned as mayor of Markham, defeating Carole Bell, who had succeeded Roman as mayor upon his appointment as York chairman in 1984. He was easily re-elected in the 1991 municipal elections.

Community involvement

Cathedral of the Transfiguration in Markham

Roman (along with financial backing from his uncle and businessman Stephen Boleslav Roman) was instrumental in the design and construction of the Cathedral of the Transfiguration, a large Slovak Byzantine church built on open land in northwestern Markham.

Death

Roman died while still in office as Mayor in 1992.

Honours

Roman's name lives on in Markham:

• Anthony Roman Avenue, a small residential street in Cathedraltown, Ontario
• Anthony Roman Centre - Markham Civic Centre - Flato Markham Theatre - Unionville High School
• Anthony Roman Award
• Tony Roman Memorial Tournament - ice hockey ended in 2013 after 40 years

Electoral record

1984 Canadian federal election: York North
Party	Candidate	Votes
	Independent	Tony Roman	32,200
	Progressive Conservative	John A. Gamble	27,955
	Liberal	Aldo Tollis	18,034
	New Democratic	Doris Schwar	10,077

See also

• List of mayors of Markham, Ontario

External links

• Tony Roman – Parliament of Canada biography