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Kevin Clarke (politician)

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Kevin Mark Clarke (born March 21, 1964) is a Canadian activist, perennial candidate, and former educator, who is the founder and former leader of The People's Political Party. He is considered one of the most recognizable homeless persons in the city of Toronto,[2] campaigning on "the people's rights."

Kevin Clarke
President of The People's Political Party
In office
2021–2023
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byOffice distablished
Leader of The People's Political Party
In office
September 3, 2011 – 2021
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byTroy Young
Personal details
Born
Kevin Mark Clarke

(1964-03-21) March 21, 1964 (age 60)
St. Ann's Bay, Jamaica[1]
Political partyThe People's Political Party

Clarke advocates for criminal justice reform, and has proposed 'The Inmate Monitored Education System' (TIME), a program to reduce recidivism among first-time offenders. He also campaigns on the issues of poverty and homelessness.

Biography

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In the 1980s, Clarke worked as a Grade 5 teacher at Chester Le Junior Public School in Scarborough.

He worked in the automobile business during the early 1990s. He sought election as Mayor of East York in the 1994 municipal election, describing himself as an "advertising consultant, political rebel and welfare recipient". He promised to resign after three months if elected, and to form a provincial party for ordinary people.[3]

Clarke first campaigned for the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in the 1995 general election, challenging New Democratic Party Premier Bob Rae in York South. He received 170 votes, finishing seventh in a field of nine candidates. During this election, Clarke vowed to oppose the "pimps" of government who "live off the avails of the people".[4]

Clarke campaigned for York South again in 1996 after Rae retired from the legislature, and finished last in a field of six candidates with 70 votes. The winner was Gerard Kennedy of the Ontario Liberal Party.

He sought election to the House of Commons of Canada in the 1997 federal election, and finished sixth out of eight candidates in Broadview—Greenwood with 211 votes. The winner was Dennis Mills of the Liberal Party of Canada. During this election, Clarke described himself as a salesman and a businessman.

He became homeless in 1998 after his auto business failed. For the next seven years, he frequently sang and preached on the streets of Toronto.[citation needed] He was also actively involved in public affairs and was a member of the Toronto Disaster Relief Committee.

Clarke ran for the Ontario legislature a third time in a by-election for Beaches—East York on September 20, 2001. He finished sixth out of eight candidates with 94 votes. The winner was Michael Prue of the New Democratic Party.

Clarke campaigned for Mayor of Toronto in the 2000, 2003 and 2006 municipal elections, and ran for Toronto City Council in by-elections held in 1998 and 2001. His primary issues were street and water safety, though he also emphasized anti-drug policies. He ran his 2001 campaign out of a homeless shelter which he used every night.[5] In the 1998 campaign, his age was listed as thirty-four.[6]

He took part in an unusual protest during the 2003 campaign, by tearing up pieces of a telephone book and scattering them to the wind during lunch hour at a busy Toronto intersection. "You care if there's paper on the street," he said to passers-by, "but you don't care if there's people on the street".[7] He also described himself as an "ex-con, ex-drug dealer and ex-teacher".[8]

Clarke finally found housing again in 2005,[9] and worked as an actor during this period.[10]

He was a candidate running for the 2010 Toronto mayoral election. Clarke has been known to employ eccentric tactics to reach the public during his campaign, including speeches while aboard the TTC and rollerblading whilst shouting campaign slogans on the road in Kingston Road and Lawrence Avenue East area.

In the 2011 Ontario election he ran as leader of the People's Political Party.[11]

Clarke ran for mayor in the 2018 election,[12] where he finished with 3,853 votes.

Clarke is known for attending debates and causing a commotion. He was not invited to a debate Toronto Centre By-election in 2013; however, he showed up and began yelling at the Liberal Party candidate Chrystia Freeland and New Democratic Candidate Linda McQuaig. He was subsequently arrested, and the debate was cancelled.[13] Additionally in 2019, he attended a debate on the environment and climate change ahead of the 2019 federal election in Scarborough-Guildwood, where only members of the major political parties were invited. He entered holding a large hand-painted "Vote Kevin Clarke" sign and immediately began yelling and criticizing the debate organizers as well as Liberal Party incumbent candidate John McKay. Upon discussion between the organizers and invited candidates, he was eventually allowed to participate in the debate on the condition he remained orderly.[14]

Clarke ran in the 2020 Toronto Centre federal by-election.

Clarke unsuccessfully ran for Toronto mayor in the 2022 mayoral election and the 2023 mayoral by-election.

He is a candidate in the 2023 Scarborough—Guildwood provincial by-election.

Electoral record

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Toronto mayoral elections
Year Votes Vote % Place
2000 4,147 0.68 7th
2003 804 0.12 12th
2006 2,081 0.36 12th
2010 1,411 0.173 14th
2014 547 0.06 18th
2018 3,853 0.51 7th
2022 4,333 0.79 9th
2021 Canadian federal election: Scarborough—Guildwood
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John McKay 22,944 61.1 ±0.0
Conservative Carmen Wilson 7,998 21.3 -1.1
New Democratic Michelle Spencer 5,091 13.6 +2.4
People's James Bountrogiannis 1,096 2.9 +1.4
Independent Kevin Clarke 155 0.4 +0.1
Centrist Aslam Khan 129 0.3 N/A
Independent Opa Day 85 0.2 N/A
Canadian Nationalist Gus Stefanis 52 0.1 -0.1
Total valid votes 37,550 98.6
Total rejected ballots 548 1.4
Turnout 38,098 58.0
Eligible voters 65,711
Liberal hold Swing +0.6
Source: Elections Canada[15]
Canadian federal by-election, October 26, 2020: Toronto Centre
Resignation of Bill Morneau
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Marci Ien 10,581 42.0 -15.4 $116,839[citation needed]
Green Annamie Paul 8,250 32.7 +25.6 $100,008[citation needed]
New Democratic Brian Chang 4,280 17.0 -5.3 $71,222[citation needed]
Conservative Benjamin Gauri Sharma 1,435 5.7 -6.4 $0[citation needed]
People's Baljit Bawa 269 1.1 – $22,752[citation needed]
Libertarian Keith Komar 135 0.5 –
Independent Kevin Clarke 123 0.5 –
Free Dwayne Cappelletti 76 0.3 – $1,570[citation needed]
No affiliation Above Znoneofthe 56 0.2 – $0[citation needed]
Total valid votes 25,205 100.0 –
Total rejected ballots 118 0.5 -0.2
Turnout 25,323 30.9 -35.2
Electors on lists 81,861
Liberal hold Swing -20.5
Elections Canada[16][17]


2019 Canadian federal election: Scarborough—Guildwood
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal John McKay 26,123 61.12 +1.08 $79,793.87
Conservative Quintus Thuraisingham 9,553 22.35 -4.15 $57,402.46
New Democratic Michelle Spencer 4,806 11.24 -0.02 none listed
Green Tara McMahon 1,220 2.85 +1.41 none listed
People's Jigna Jani 648 1.52 - none listed
Independent Kevin Clarke 112 0.26 -0.16 none listed
Canadian Nationalist Gus Stefanis 85 0.20 – none listed
Independent Stephen Abara 70 0.16 - none listed
Independent Kathleen Marie Holding 70 0.16 - none listed
Canada's Fourth Front Farhan Alvi 55 0.13 - $791.00
Total valid votes/expense limit 42,742 98.66
Total rejected ballots 580 1.34 +0.87
Turnout 43,322 62.89 -1.69
Eligible voters 68,886
Liberal hold Swing +2.61
Source: Elections Canada[18][19]
2018 Ontario general election: Toronto Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Suze Morrison 23,688 53.66 +37.87
Liberal David Morris 11,986 27.15 -31.07
Progressive Conservative Meredith Cartwright 6,234 14.12 -4.43
Green Adam Sommerfeld 1,377 3.12 -1.30
Libertarian Judi Falardeau 371 0.84 -0.23
Special Needs Dan King 117 0.27 -0.12
New People's Choice Cameron James 110 0.25
Stop the New Sex-Ed Agenda Theresa Snell 102 0.23
The People Kevin Clarke 98 0.22 +0.06
Canadian Economic Wanda Marie Fountain 65 0.15
Total valid votes 44,148 100.0  
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 404 0.92
Turnout 44,552 54.30
Eligible voters 82,044
New Democratic gain from Liberal Swing +34.47
Source: Elections Ontario[20]
2015 Canadian federal election: Scarborough—Guildwood
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal John McKay 25,167 60.04 +24.25 $77,572.69
Conservative Chuck Konkel 11,108 26.50 -8.19 $80,342.41
New Democratic Laura Casselman 4,720 11.26 -15.44 $14,956.71
Green Kathleen Holding 606 1.45 -0.78 –
Independent Kevin Clarke 175 0.42 – –
Marijuana Paul Coulbeck 141 0.34 -0.26 –
Total valid votes/Expense limit 41,917 99.53   $198,726.79
Total rejected ballots 198 0.47
Turnout 42,115 64.58
Eligible voters 65,217
Liberal hold Swing +16.22
Source: Elections Canada[21][22]
2014 Ontario general election: Scarborough—Agincourt
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Soo Wong 17,332 49.84 +2.82
Progressive Conservative Liang Chen 12,041 34.63 +2.64
New Democratic Alex Wilson 4,105 11.81 -3.94
Green Pauline Thompson 907 2.61 +0.34
The People Kevin Clarke 387 1.11
Total valid votes 34,772 100.0  
Liberal hold Swing +0.09
Source: Elections Ontario[23]
Ontario provincial by-election, February 13, 2014: Thornhill
Resignation of Peter Shurman
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Gila Martow 13,438 47.89 +1.18
Liberal Sandra Yeung Racco 11,671 41.60 +0.68
New Democratic Cindy Hackelberg 1,905 6.79 -2.17
Green Teresa Pun 404 1.44 -0.24
Libertarian Gene Balfour 296 1.05 -0.34
Freedom Erin Goodwin 153 0.55 +0.22
People's Political Party Kevin Clarke 144 0.51
Pauper John Turmel 47 0.17
Total valid votes 28,058 100.00
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 126 0.45
Turnout 28,184 27.36
Eligible voters 103,021
Progressive Conservative hold Swing +0.25
Source: Elections Ontario[24]
Canadian federal by-election, November 25, 2013: Toronto Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Chrystia Freeland 17,194 49.38 +8.37 $ 97,609.64
New Democratic Linda McQuaig 12,640 36.30 +6.09 99,230.30
Conservative Geoff Pollock 3,004 8.63 −14.01 75,557.39
Green John Deverell 1,034 2.97 −2.05 21,521.10
Progressive Canadian Dorian Baxter 453 1.30   –    
Libertarian Judi Falardeau 236 0.68 +0.18 –    
Independent Kevin Clarke 84 0.24   560.00
Independent John "The Engineer" Turmel 56 0.16   –    
Independent Leslie Bory 51 0.15   633.30
Online Michael Nicula 43 0.12   200.00
Independent Bahman Yazdanfar 26 0.07 −0.12 1,134.60
Total valid votes/expense limit 34,821 99.49 –   $ 101,793.06
Total rejected ballots 177 0.51 +0.12
Turnout 34,998 37.72 −25.21
Eligible voters 92,780    
Liberal hold Swing +1.14
By-election due to the resignation of Bob Rae.
Source(s)
"November 25, 2013 By-elections Poll-by-poll results". Elections Canada. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
"November 25, 2013 By-election – Financial Reports". Retrieved May 9, 2014.
Ontario provincial by-election, September 6, 2012: Kitchener—Waterloo
Resignation of Elizabeth Witmer
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Catherine Fife 18,599 39.87 +23.20
Progressive Conservative Tracey Weiler 14,851 31.83 -11.94
Liberal Eric Davis 11,194 23.99 -12.05
Green Stacey Danckert 1,525 3.27 +0.63
Libertarian Allan Dettweiler 156 0.33
Freedom David Driver 95 0.20 -0.05
Communist Elizabeth Rowley 85 0.18
Independent Garnet Bruce 77 0.17
People's Political Party Kevin Clarke 48 0.10
Pauper John Turmel 23 0.05
Total valid votes 46,653 100.00
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 128 0.27
Turnout 46,781 47.00
Eligible voters 99,544
New Democratic gain from Progressive Conservative Swing +17.57
Source(s)
Elections Ontario (2012). "Official return from the records / Rapport des registres officiels - Kitchener—Waterloo by-election" (PDF). Retrieved 2 June 2014.
2011 Ontario general election: Toronto—Danforth
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Peter Tabuns 20,062 54.01 +8.16
Liberal Marisa Sterling 11,369 30.60 +1.40
Progressive Conservative Rita Jethi 3,488 9.39 -1.89
Green Tim Whalley 1,354 3.64 -7.51
Libertarian John Recker 440 1.18 +0.01
People's Political Party Kevin Clarke 143 0.38  
Independent Neil Mercer 110 0.30  
Freedom Stéphane Vera 107 0.29  
Independent John Richardson 75 0.20  
Total valid votes 37,148 100.00
Rejected 157 0.42
Unmarked 45 0.12
Declined 24 0.06
Turnout 37,374 49.30
Eligible voters 75,815
New Democratic hold Swing +3.38
Source: Elections Ontario[25]
Ontario provincial by-election, September 20, 2001: Beaches—East York
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Michael Prue 14,024 49.83 +4.26
Liberal Robert Hunter 10,289 36.56 +14.98
Progressive Conservative Mac Penney 2,821 10.02 -19.53
Green Peter Elgie 694 2.47 +1.47
Family Coalition Ray Scott 206 0.73 +0.12
Independent Kevin Clarke 94 0.35 –
Independent Vince Corriere 59 0.21 –
Independent Don King 51 0.18 –
Total valid votes 28,144 100.0 –
Elections Ontario:[26]
1997 Canadian federal election: Broadview—Greenwood
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Dennis Mills 21,108 49.76 -11.31
New Democratic Jack Layton 13,903 32.77 +18.82
Reform Brian Higgins 3,247 7.65 -3.64
Progressive Conservative Dianne Garrels 3,238 7.63 -1.71
Green Karen McCarthy 426 1.00 –
Independent Kevin Clarke 211 0.50 –
Natural Law Bob Hyman 205 0.48 -0.53
Marxist–Leninist Gurdev Singh 85 0.20 -0.04
Total valid votes 42,423 100.00 –
Ontario provincial by-election, May 23, 1996: York South
Party Candidate Votes %
Liberal Gerard Kennedy 7,774 39.22
New Democratic David Miller 6,656 33.58
Progressive Conservative Rob Davis 5,093 25.69
Independent David Milne 151 0.76
Libertarian George Dance 77 0.39
Independent Kevin Clarke 70 0.35
Total valid votes 19,821 100.00
Rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 264
Turnout 20,085 51.38
Electors on the lists 39,092


1995 Ontario general election: York South
Party Candidate Votes % Expenditures
New Democratic Bob Rae 10,442 41.24 $39,100.07
Progressive Conservative Larry Edwards 7,726 30.51 $28,482.21
Liberal Hagood Hardy 6,025 23.79 $42,578.22
Family Coalition Don Pennell 305 1.20 $4,210.68
Green David James Cooper 219 0.86 $1,046.57
Natural Law Bob Hyman 176 0.70 $0.00
Independent Kevin Clarke 170 0.67 $1,164.66
Libertarian Roma Kelembet 153 0.60 $819.58
Communist Darrell Rankin 105 0.41 $59.00
Total valid votes 25,321 100.00
Rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 388
Turnout 25,709 69.13
Electors on the lists 37,192
1994 East York municipal election — Mayor
Candidate Votes %
Michael Prue 15,620 63.10
Bob Willis 6,295 25.43
Anne Sinclair 1,403 5.67
Kevin Clarke 788 3.18
June French 648 2.62
Total valid votes 24,754 100%

References

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  1. ^ Cole, Desmond (17 May 2023). "On debate, disruption, and hostage takings". Yes, Everything!. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  2. ^ "Fringe Candidate For Mayor Holds Up Debate At U Of T". CityNews. October 24, 2016. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  3. ^ Toronto Star, 10 November 1994
  4. ^ Toronto Star, 5 June 1995
  5. ^ Mark Atkinson (November 30, 2001). "KEVIN CLARKE:He's concerned about the quality of drinking water". Toronto Observer. Archived from the original on 2005-12-14. Retrieved 2014-08-20.
  6. ^ Toronto Star, 29 October 1998
  7. ^ National Post, 11 November 2003
  8. ^ Toronto Star, 6 November 2003
  9. ^ http://www.eye.net/eye/issue/issue_05.26.05/city/clarke.html November 4, 2005[dead link]
  10. ^ Toronto Star, 4 April 2005
  11. ^ "Registered Political Parties". Elections Ontario. Archived from the original on 2014-06-02. Retrieved 2014-06-03.
  12. ^ "Elections - City of Toronto - List of Candidates". toronto.ca. 14 July 2017. Archived from the original on July 30, 2018. Retrieved July 30, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  13. ^ "Canadian Politician Kevin Clarke Disorderly at Debate". YouTube.
  14. ^ "Scarborough-Guildwood debate on environment 2019". YouTube.
  15. ^ "List of confirmed candidates – September 20, 2021 Federal Election". Elections Canada. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  16. ^ "Toronto Centre: October 26, 2020, by-elections — Poll-by-poll results". Elections Canada. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  17. ^ "October 26, 2020, By-elections: Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  18. ^ "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  19. ^ "Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  20. ^ "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. p. 11. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  21. ^ Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Scarborough—Guildwood, 30 September 2015
  22. ^ Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates
  23. ^ "Valid Votes Cast for Each Candidate - 2014 General Election.pdf" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  24. ^ "Official return from the records / Rapport des registres officiels - Thornhill by-election" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-06-06. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  25. ^ "Official return from the records / Rapport des registres officiels - Toronto—Danforth" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 2011. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  26. ^ Elections Ontario. "Elections Ontario, By-election 2001, Summary of valid ballots for each candidate: Beaches-East York". Archived from the original on 2012-06-07. Retrieved 2012-03-21.
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