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

Toronto mayor

 * Results
 * Robert John Fleming (incumbent) - 11,960
 * George McMurrich - 10,375

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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.

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.
 * 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

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


 * 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

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