1978 Toronto municipal election

The Toronto municipal election of 1978, held on Monday, November 13, 1978, was the first seriously contested mayoralty race in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, since David Crombie took office in the 1972 election. Crombie left municipal politics earlier in 1978 to seek and win a seat in the House of Commons of Canada as the Progressive Conservative Member of Parliament for Rosedale electoral district.

Mayoral race
The contest to succeed Crombie (or more correctly, interim Mayor Fred Beavis) was a wide-open affair that saw three aldermen, David Smith, Tony O'Donohue and John Sewell contest the position.

Though O'Donohue and Smith were both aligned with the Liberals with links to developers, O'Donohue was seen as more right-wing and won the endorsement of the conservative Toronto Sun newspaper, while Smith was seen as more of a centrist.

Sewell had first been elected to Toronto city council in 1969 and had a reputation as a community activist and even a radical. His backers consisted of New Democratic Party supporters (although Sewell himself has never been a member of the party), left-wing Liberals and Red Tories, many of whom had supported Crombie who, despite his Tory allegiance, had a reputation as a reform mayor on the left-wing of the municipal political spectrum.

The split on the right between O'Donohue and Smith allowed Sewell to win with less than 50% of the vote.

Sewell received strong support from younger voters, tenants, and the highly educated and affluent. He carried midtown (ward 5), the downtown (wards 6 and 7, the latter of which he represented as an alderman), the east end (wards 8 and 9) and one of the city's wealthy northern wards (ward 10). O'Donohue won the working class, heavily Catholic and ethnic west end (wards 1-4), one of which he represented as an alderman; Sewell fared poorly in the west end. Smith narrowly beat Sewell in the northern ward 11, which he had represented as an alderman.


 * Results
 * John Sewell - 71,885
 * Tony O'Donohue - 62,173
 * David Smith - 45,071
 * Joe Martin - 1,658
 * Ron Morawski - 1,546
 * John Beattle - 1,239
 * Louis Thomas - 826
 * Richard Sanders - 778
 * Zoltan Szoboszloi - 439
 * Hardial Dhir - 379
 * Walter Lohaza - 336
 * Andries Murnieks - 323

City council


Top two from each ward elected to Toronto City Council. Top one from each ward also wins a seat on Metro Toronto council.


 * Ward 1 (Swansea and Bloor West Village)
 * (incumbent)David White - 8,087
 * William Boytchuk - 7,379
 * Audrey Jardine - 5,281
 * Diane Fancher - 4,943
 * Io Amoneen - 4,457
 * Aiden Buckley - 1,209


 * Ward 2 (Parkdale and Brockton)
 * Tony Ruprecht - 4,843
 * Barbara Adams - 4,582
 * Thor Wons - 3,457
 * Chris Korwin - 3,008
 * Les Wawrow - 1,959
 * Glen Bany - 1,956
 * Bob Grossi - 1,237
 * Frank Bray - 299
 * Larry Daoust - 141


 * Ward 3 (Davenport and Corso Italia)
 * (incumbent)Joseph Piccininni - 7,566
 * (incumbent)Richard Gilbert - 6,377
 * Joe Renda - 2,616
 * Tony Amono - 1,071
 * Tina Martin - 732


 * Ward 4 (Trinity-Bellwoods and Little Italy)
 * (incumbent)Art Eggleton - 4,961
 * (incumbent)George Ben - 3,402
 * Joe Pantalone - 3,251
 * John Medeiros - 1,844
 * Tony Ianno - 1,807
 * Bill Moniz - 1,398
 * Manuel Alves - 671
 * Robert Taddeo - 547
 * Joe Pimental - 341
 * Manuel Garcia - 330


 * Ward 5 (The Annex and Yorkville)
 * (incumbent)Ying Hope - 11,870
 * (incumbent)Susan Fish - 11,505
 * Frank Severino - 2,056


 * Ward 6 (Financial District, Toronto - University of Toronto)
 * (incumbent)Allan Sparrow - 8,029
 * (incumbent)Dan Heap - 7,514
 * Dan Richards - 6,421
 * Rose Smith - 2,785
 * Joe Martin - 1,143


 * Ward 7 (Regent Park and Riverdale)
 * Gordon Cressy - 11,869
 * (incumbent)Janet Howard - 9,533
 * George Patton - 4,258
 * Randall Parsons - 837
 * Charles Rolfe - 573
 * Steve Necheff - 483


 * Ward 8 (Riverdale)
 * (incumbent)Fred Beavis - 7,997
 * (incumbent)Thomas Clifford - 7,205
 * Charlotte Stuart - 5,097
 * Chris Toutounis - 2,933
 * Beatrice Zeveruche - 691
 * Louis Kostan - 493
 * Jim McMillan - 376
 * Vincent Corriero - 267
 * Elizabeth Parsons - 253
 * Alex Yaung - 189


 * Ward 9 (The Beaches)
 * (incumbent)Pat Sheppard - 9,248
 * (incumbent)Tom Wardle, Jr. - 8,815
 * Brian Fullerton - 7,489
 * Bruce Budd - 7,113
 * Sharon Meecham - 2,366
 * Charles Martin - 396


 * Ward 10 (Rosedale and North Toronto)
 * (incumbent)June Rowlands - 15,790
 * Andrew Paton - 14,980
 * Harvey Dyck - 8,911
 * Neil Agnoo - 640


 * Ward 11 (Forest Hill and North Toronto)
 * (incumbent)Anne Johnston - 14,996
 * Michael Gee - 11,395
 * Kay Gardner - 8,485
 * Eunice Grayson - 6,115
 * Dennis Hunt - 1,388

By-elections
Ward 4 Alderman George Ben died on December 17, 1978. A by-election was held on February 26, 1979:


 * Tony O'Donohue: 4,699
 * Joe Pantalone - 4,361
 * Tony Marchese - 413
 * Mike Lotosky - 87
 * Richard Sanders - 40

Mayor

 * Alan Redway (acclaimed)

Mayor

 * (incumbent)Dennis Flynn - 46,680
 * Terry Howes - 12,903
 * Alexander Masur - 4,941

(783 out of 815 polls)

Board of Control
(four to be elected)
 * (incumbent)Bill Stockwell - 48,336
 * (incumbent)Bruce Sinclair - 39,525
 * (incumbent)Nora Pownall - 35,888
 * Morley Kells - 35,786
 * (incumbent)E. H. (Pete) Farrow - 31,067

(783 out of 815 polls)

North York
Mel Lastman was re-elected mayor receiving the most votes ever recorded for a North York mayor. Barbara Greene, Esther Shiner and Robert Yuill were re-elected to Board of Control with Irving Paisley taking the fourth seat. Greene received the most votes for a Board of Control member which carries the post of deputy mayor. Some analysts thought that her chances of retaining the position may have been hurt by her becoming a single mother in the previous year. In the ward races, three incumbents were ousted including Mario Sergio over Gord Risk in Ward 1; Howard Moscoe over Murray Markin in Ward 4; and Mike Foster over Marilyn Meshberg in Ward 5. Elinor Caplan won in ward 13 to replace Mike Smith who retired from council.

Mayor

 * (incumbent)Mel Lastman - 83,811
 * Perry Dane - 11,396
 * Helena Obadia - 5,646

Board of Control
(four to be elected)
 * (incumbent)Barbara Greene - 57,808
 * (incumbent)Esther Shiner - 55,429
 * (incumbent)Robert Yuill - 44,748
 * Irving Paisley - 34,648
 * Ron Summers - 34,514
 * Alex McGivern - 33,602
 * Harvey Haber - 18,228
 * Paul Wizman - 14,221
 * Doreen Leitch - 9,791
 * Gino Vatri - 9,729
 * Sheena Suttaby - 6,049

Council

 * Ward 1
 * Mario Sergio - 2,224
 * (incumbent)Gord Risk - 1,945
 * Sheila Lambrinos - 1,468


 * Ward 2
 * (incumbent)Mario Gentile - 5,155
 * Rocco Cossidente - 1,332


 * Ward 3
 * (incumbent)Pat O'Neill - 2,915
 * Peter Pallotta - 1,882
 * Derek Warner - 806
 * Roy Wilcox - 325


 * Ward 5
 * Michael Foster - 3,877
 * (incumbent)Marilyn Meshberg - 3,620
 * Amerigo Petruzzo - 1,430
 * Judy Taylor - 594


 * Ward 6
 * (incumbent)Milton Berger - Acclaimed


 * Ward 7
 * (incumbent)Irving Chapley - 5,218
 * Jack Bedder - 2,447


 * Ward 8
 * (incumbent)Alan Heisey - Acclaimed


 * Ward 9
 * (incumbent)Norman Gardner - 5,914
 * Morry Smith - 3,526


 * Ward 10
 * (incumbent)Marie Labatte - 4,689
 * Allan Payne - 1,663


 * Ward 11
 * (incumbent)Peter Clarke - 3,853
 * Shirley Scaife - 3,465
 * Howard Cohen - 714


 * Ward 12
 * (incumbent)Barry Burton - 4,238
 * Gus Cusimano - 2,143
 * Norman Brudy - 1,098


 * Ward 13
 * Elinor Caplan - 4,416
 * Dan Pickett - 2,057
 * Paul McCann - 782
 * Alec Davis - 733
 * Bernadette Michael - 324
 * Sudhi Shankar Menon - 166


 * Ward 14
 * (incumbent)Betty Sutherland - Acclaimed

Public school trustee

 * Ward 1
 * Jo Treasure - 1,463
 * Jack Sweet - 1,365


 * Ward 2
 * Peg Grant - Acclaimed


 * Ward 3
 * Peggy Gemmell - 1,176
 * Elizabeth Smith - 1,170
 * Bev Folkes - 640


 * Ward 4
 * Else Chandler - 2,970
 * Ben Treos - 644
 * Sherland Chhangur - 288


 * Ward 5
 * George McCleary - Acclaimed


 * Ward 6
 * Frances Chapkin - 2,144
 * Zale Newman - 965
 * Ian Lovatt - 881
 * Robert Howse - 716
 * Peter Beecham - 334
 * Vladimir Machlis - 126


 * Ward 7
 * Mae Waese - 2,654
 * Adam Fuerstenberg - 2,121
 * Leon Stalner - 971
 * Alan Simons - 840
 * Morley Philips - 761
 * Charles Stewart - 375


 * Ward 8
 * Marilyn Knowles - 2,586
 * Diane Betts - 1,946
 * John Buttrick - 617
 * Charles Kasner - 483
 * Judy Mandel - 265
 * Phil Reeve - 250
 * Morris Atlas - 151


 * Ward 9
 * Neil Strauss - 3,704
 * Harold Koehler - 2,877
 * George Hamell - 1,265
 * Irwin Krakowsky - 357


 * Ward 10
 * Sybil Darnell - 2,306
 * William Gruber - 1,357
 * David Reed - 1,330


 * Ward 11
 * Marion Gordon - 3,733
 * Edward Reiken - 994
 * George Malner - 844
 * Ken Stagg - 716


 * Ward 12
 * Ken Crowley - 3,724
 * Althea Collins-Poulos - 1,093


 * Ward 13
 * Lawrence Krackower - 2,844
 * Gerald Wiseman - 1,905
 * Ralph Benner - 1,725
 * Victoria Sibila - 392


 * Ward 14
 * Martin Park - 3,964
 * Serj Assadourian - 1,063

Hydro Commission
(two to be elected)
 * Bill Sutherland - 41,561
 * Carl Anderson - 28,750
 * Paul Adler - 21,904
 * D'Arcy McConvey - 18,907
 * Mollie Goodbaum - 15,189
 * Norman Baird - 12,984
 * David Horwood - 7,065
 * Nicholas Tryphonopoulos - 5,350

Scarborough
Gus Harris won his first term as mayor defeating interim mayor Ken Morrish by 3,000 votes. Morrish was appointed interim mayor after Paul Cosgrove resigned to run federally. Incumbent controllers Brian Harrison, Joyce Trimmer and Frank Faubert were all re-elected while alderman Carol Ruddell took the fourth spot. Shirley Eidt returned to council after beating one term alderman Brian Brazier. Newcomers include Wally Majesky (Ward 2), Alan Robinson (Ward 5), and Maureen Prinsloo (Ward 10).

Mayor

 * Gus Harris - 33,483
 * (incumbent)Ken Morrish - 29,908
 * Ron Watson - 13,822
 * Lois James - 4,241
 * Donald Lunny -2.404

Board of Control
(Four to be elected)
 * (incumbent)Brian Harrison - 50,728
 * (incumbent)Joyce Trimmer - 44,502
 * Carol Ruddell - 42,299
 * (incumbent)Frank Faubert - 39,897
 * Bob Watson - 28,121
 * Jim Bryers - 22,594
 * John Tsopelas - 9,768
 * Greg McGroarty - 9,218

Council

 * Ward 1
 * (incumbent)Bill Belfontaine - 5,326
 * Doug Varsey - 2,067


 * Ward 2
 * Wally Majesky - 2,736
 * Don MacMillan - 2,374
 * Gordon McMillen - 993
 * Doug Springhope - 838


 * Ward 3
 * (incumbent)Norm Kelly - Acclaimed


 * Ward 4
 * (incumbent)Jack Goodlad - Acclaimed


 * Ward 5
 * Alan Robinson - 2,465
 * Gord Ashberry - 2,113
 * Don Hillard - 1,203


 * Ward 6
 * (incumbent)Frederick Bland - 4,562
 * Joe Zammit - 2,326


 * Ward 7
 * (incumbent)Ed Fulton - 4,359
 * Joe Crowley - 2,530
 * Elizabeth McKenzie - 1,938


 * Ward 8
 * Shirley Eidt - 4,137
 * (incumbent)Tom Brazier - 3,738


 * Ward 9
 * (incumbent)Doug Colling - Acclaimed


 * Ward 10
 * Maureen Prinsloo - 2,991
 * Harry Murphy - 1,845
 * Scott MacPherson - 1,405
 * Arne Boye - 749
 * Larry Calcutt - 622
 * Ken Wayne - 382


 * Ward 11
 * (incumbent)John Wimbs - Acclaimed


 * Ward 12
 * (incumbent)Joe DeKort - 3,823
 * Jack Heads - 967

York
In the borough of York, Gayle Christie defeated Philip White who had been Mayor since 1969.


 * Mayor
 * Gayle Christie 15,732
 * Philip White 14,050
 * Douglas Saunders 8,322


 * Board of Control (2 elected)
 * Fergy Brown (Acclaimed)
 * Alan Tonks (Acclaimed)


 * Ward 1
 * Ben Nobleman (Acclaimed)


 * Ward 2
 * Oscar Kogan 1,429
 * Tony Mandarano 1,326
 * Marvin Gordon 351
 * Deanna Michael 243


 * Ward 3
 * Ron Bradd 2,217
 * Nino D'Apria 1,762


 * Ward 4
 * Patrick Canavan 1,106
 * Cillard Ward 1,045
 * Enzo Ragno 744


 * Ward 5
 * Chris Tonks 2,330
 * Hilde Zimmer 1,176


 * Ward 6
 * Lois Lane 2,520
 * Lloyd Sainsbury 2,250
 * Buzz Fedunchak 1,056


 * Ward 7
 * John Nunziata 2,019
 * Don Kendal 1,843
 * Harold Stuart 1,051
 * Mario Ruffolo 981
 * Alex Dulkewych 415