1897 Toronto municipal election

Municipal elections were held in Toronto, Canada, on January 4, 1897. Mayor Robert John Fleming was re-elected, defeating Alderman George McMurrich. Fleming's principal campaign pledge was a promise to build a bridge to extend the street railway system to the Toronto Islands, as well as readjusting water rates and reorganizing the boards of education. This was Fleming's fourth mayoral victory, his second in a row. He pledged that this would be his final term in office^[1][2]

Toronto mayor

Results

Robert John Fleming (incumbent) - 11,960

George McMurrich - 10,375

Source:^[1]

Board of Control

The Toronto Board of Control was elected by Toronto City Council from among its members, and presided over by the mayor. At the first council meeting following the general election, council chose Aldermen Graham, Lamb, and Leslie to sit on the body, presided over by the mayor.^[3]

Plebiscites

A plebiscite was held on authorizing the spending of $275,000 on the completion of the municipal court house and $26,000 for a water main on Front Street. There was also a vote on moving future elections to New Year's Day.^[1]

Court House

Yea - 4,635

Nay - 2,196

Water Main

Yea - 4,233

Nay - 2,573

New Year's Day election date

Yea - 16,465

Nay - 4,802

Source:^[1]

Aldermen elected to City Council

Map of Toronto's six wards (1892-1909), published in The Globe, 1 January 1892.

Four alderman were elected to sit on Toronto City Council in each of six wards. Six incumbent aldermen were defeated in the election.^[1]

First Ward

John Russell (incumbent) - 950

Thomas Allen (incumbent) - 944

John Knox Leslie (incumbent) - 936

James Frame - 907

T.S. Lobb - 886

C.C. Small (incumbent) - 728

Samuel H. Defries - 546

Elgin Schoff - 434

Ed Blong - 420

T.E. Washington - 411

George Wellings - 321

Thomas Cummings - 125

Second Ward

John Hallam (incumbent) - 1,693

Francis S. Spence (incumbent) - 1,687

Daniel Lamb (incumbent) - 1,371

William L. Beale - 1,281

Thomas Bryce - 1,242

Thomas Davies (incumbent) - 1,207

Thomas Foster - 1,131

P.H. Drayton - 1,114

Dr. Samuel Thompson - 946

David Carlyle - 814

Third Ward

A.F. Rutter - 2,856

John Shaw - 2,856

O.B. Sheppard (incumbent) - 2,827

Bernard Saunders (incumbent) - 2,718

James B. Boustead (incumbent) -2,001

Ernest A. Macdonald - 991

John S. Lucas - 686

Fourth Ward

Wm. P. Hubbard (incumbent) - 2,798

Wm. Burns (incumbent) - 2,621

James Crane (incumbent) - 1,777

William Carlyle - 1,543

James Jolliffe (incumbent) -1,354

H.E. Trent - 1,291

F.W. Unitt - 1,221

J.E. Verral - 941

Robert P. Hall - 536

James Langdon - 340

D.H. Watt - 89

Fifth Ward

Robt. H. Graham (incumbent) - 2,042

W.T.R. Preston (incumbent) - 1,778

Francis H. Woods - 1,746

John Dunn (incumbent) - 1,643

William Bell (incumbent) - 1,609

A.R. Denison - 1,412

Sixth Ward

James Gowanlock (incumbent) - 1,566

James Scott (incumbent) - 1,153

John J. Graham (incumbent) - 1,042

Adam Lynd M.D. - 947

James M. Bowman - 931

J. Harvey Hall - 834

Hugh MacMath - 751

George Gilbert Rowe (incumbent) - 518

Joseph Pocock - 500

Source:^[1] and ^[4]