1916 Edmonton municipal election

The 1916 municipal election was held December 11, 1916 to elect a mayor and six aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council, three trustees to sit on the public school board, and four trustees to sit on the separate school board.

There were ten aldermen on city council, but four of the positions were already filled: Orlando Bush, Robert Douglas, William Campbell McArthur, and Charles Wilson were all elected to two-year terms in 1915 and were still in office. James Macfie MacDonald was also elected to a two-year term in 1915, but resigned to run for mayor but then stood aside for Henry. He was elected to a two-year term and a less popular northside candidate, J. A. Kinney, was elected to a one year term to fill out his term. Kinney ran as a candidate for the Labour Party; all other candidates ran without any stated connection to a slate or party.[1]

There were seven trustees on the public school board, while four of the positions were already filled: Walter Ramsey, Samuel Barnes, Henry Douglas, and J. A. McPherson had all been elected to two-year terms in 1915. There were also seven positions on the separate board, with three of them filled. Because one was vacant by reason of a resignation, O Derome was elected to a one-year term.

Electoral System

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The election of mayor was conducted by First past the post.

The election of aldermen was conducted through Plurality block voting, with each voter having ability to cast as many as six votes, no more than one per candidate.

Voter turnout

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There were 7745 ballots cast out of 11717 eligible voters, for a voter turnout of 66.1%.

Results

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Mayor

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Party Candidate Votes %
  Independent William Thomas Henry 6,186 79.88%
  Independent Joseph Clarke 1,558 20.12%

Aldermen

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One Southsider had to be elected to a two year term.

The least popular candidate, otherwise, was elected to a one-year term.

Party Candidate Votes Elected
Independent Thomas Bellamy 4,219  Y
Independent George Pheasey 4,126  Y
Independent William Martin 3,837  Y
Independent James Macfie MacDonald 3,730  Y
Labour J. A. Kinney 3,666  Y
Independent Joseph Henri Picard 3,617
Independent Charles Grant 3,345 SS  Y
Independent James Collisson 2,686
Independent Andrew McLennan 2,535
Independent R. L. Carter 2,018
Independent P. D. McGrath 1,040

Under the minimum South Side representation rule, Grant was elected instead of more popular Picard.

Public school trustees

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Party Candidate Votes
  Independent William Rea 4,075
  Independent Joseph Duggan 2,665
  Independent Charles Frost 2,634
  Independent L. T. Barclay 2,258
  Independent D. H. MacKinnon 1,912
  Independent Samuel McCoppen 1,837
  Independent James Findlay 1,091
  Independent Charles Sandles 971

Separate (Catholic) school trustees

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Party Candidate Votes
  Independent Joseph Gariépy 407
  Independent M. J. O'Farrell 400
  Independent G. W. Curtis 299
  Independent O. Derome 264
  Independent J. A. Trudeau 229
  Independent Richard Crossland 183

References

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  1. ^ Edmonton Bulletin, December 12, 1916