Hamilton, Ontario municipal election, 2003

Hamilton municipal election, 2003

2000 ← November 13, 2003 → 2006

Candidate Larry Di Ianni David Christopherson Dick Wildeman Popular vote 70539 54298 4462 Percentage 50.92 39.20 3.22 Candidate Michael Peters Popular vote 3270 Percentage 2.36

The results of the 2003 Election. Whereas Christopherson held all downtown wards, DiIanni won enough of the suburbs to secure victory.

Mayor before election Bob Wade Elected Mayor Larry Di Ianni

The 2003 Hamilton municipal election was held on November 10, 2003 to elect municipal officials in Hamilton, Ontario. The most high-profile contest was for the mayoral office. Candidates also campaigned for city council and for school trustee positions.

Mayoral Election

Candidate	Votes	%
Mayor
Larry DiIanni	70,539	50.92
David Christopherson	54,298	39.20
Dick Wildeman	4,462	3.22
Michael Peters	3,270	2.36
Tom Murray	2,881	2.08
Michael Baldasaro	2,569	1.85
Matt Jelly	510	0.37
Total valid votes	138,529	100.00

• 

  Church of the Universe leader Michael Baldasaro

• 

  New Democrat MPP David Christopherson

• 

  Ward Ten (Stoney Creek) Councillor Larry DiIanni

• 

  Visual Artist Matt Jelly

• 

  Former Ward 8 (West Mountain) Councillor Tom Murray

• 

  Financial Controller Michael Peters

• 

  Pharmacologist Dick Wildeman

The Ward-By-Ward percentages for the top three candidates: DiIanni, Christopherson and Wildeman.

• Larry Di Ianni was first elected to Stoney Creek city council in 1982, where he served until the 2000 amalgamation of Stoney Creek into Hamilton. He then served as a Hamilton councillor until November 2003. Di Ianni's major policies included the completion of the Red Hill Creek Expressway, business tax reduction, airport development,^[1] improving relations among the amalgamated municipalities, and obtaining additional social service funding from the more senior levels of government.

• David Christopherson was elected to Hamilton City Council in 1985, where he served until 1990, when he was elected to the Ontario Legislature as a New Democrat, where he served, both in government and opposition until 2003. During the NDP's tenure in government from 1990 to 1995, Christopherson held the positions of Minister of Correctional Services and Solicitor-General.

• Dick Wildeman was a 61 year old PhD in pharmacology, and former director of Pharmaceutical Sciences at McMaster University Medical Centre. He led a de-amalgamation slate in the election, attempting to reverse a 2000 decision by the provincial government to amalgamate Hamilton with the neighbouring municipalities of Dundas, Ancaster, Stoney Creek, Flamborough and Glanbrook. His vision on how to do so, though, attempted to recreate the version of local government utilized in 1975, where rural communities bought services from the Hamilton municipality and contributed to 80% of the cost. Local media berated his plan, saying there was "a troubling lack of clarity in how Wildeman envisions" demalgamation and that he "doesn't have what it takes to be mayor of the city of Hamilton," because of "huge disconnects in [his] logic."^[2]

• Michael Peters was a 36-year-old first-time candidate and financial controller for a Burlington electrical company at the time of the election. His major campaign planks focused on supporting the Red Hill Creek Expressway, keeping the newly amalgamated suburban communities united with Greater Hamilton and slowing urban sprawl by supporting industrial brownfield development. Peters also lamented the flight of university educated residents from the city, and was quoted as saying, "Of my group of high school friends who went off to university, not one of them lives here, other than me."^[3]

• Tom Murray was a 50-year-old electrician at Dofasco and former four term councillor for Ward 8. During his tenure on council, his aggressive style proved controversial, but he maintained that this would be a strong quality for Hamilton's Mayor to have. His platform included no-tax increases, revitalization of the waterfront, support for the completion of the Red Hill Creek Expressway and ensuring the city focuses on providing essential services while selling off assets like golf courses and entertainment facilities.^[4]

• Michael Baldasaro is a perennial candidate and the Leader of the Church of the Universe. He stood for Parliament in 1984 and 2000 on a number of different party tickets. In 2003, Baldasaro ran on a platform of monetary rewards for voting, removing City Hall security and legalizing marijuana, prostitution and nudity.^[5]

• Matt Jelly was born in Hamilton, and was a 21-year-old visual artist at the time of the election. He did not enter the election to win votes, but to gain experience and draw attention to certain issues. He wanted to give a final decision on amalgamation more time and opposed the Red Hill Creek Expressway, citing the plan's environmental drawbacks, all while humorously ending his campaign speeches with the line, "Don't vote for me, thank you and good night". ^[6]</ref>

City Council Election

Ward One (West Hamilton-McMaster)

Candidate	Votes	%
Ward 1
Brian McHattie	5614	57.94
Marvin Caplan (incumbent)	3043	31.40
Michael Puskas	1033	10.66

• Brian McHattie , who had run for Mayor in 1997, was a 43 year-old environmental consultant at the time of the election, and was noted in his opposition to the Red Hill Creek Expressway. ^[7]

• Incumbent councillor Marvin Caplan had served on Hamilton City Council for nine years prior, though found his support faltering when he was embroiled in a sexual harassment case and openly supported the completion of the Red Hill Creek Expressway, opposed by a majority of Ward One's residents.^[7]

• Michael Puskas was a local lawyer and supporter of the Expressway.^[7]

References

1. ^ http://www.raisethehammer.org/article/131/ | Smoove D: An Interview with Mayor Larry Di Ianni
2. ^ Prokaska, Lee. "Wildeman: a shrunken view," The Hamilton Spectator, November 6, 2003, Editorial, A21.
3. ^ Morse, Paul. "Candidate Profile: Michael Peters," The Hamilton Spectator, November 7, 2003, Local News, A5.
4. ^ Stepan, Cheryl. "Candidate Profile: Tom Murray," The Hamilton Spectator, November 7, 2003, Local News, A5.
5. ^ Puxley, Chinta. "Candidate Profile: Michael Baldasaro," The Hamilton Spectator, November 7, 2003, Local News, A6.
6. ^ Morse, Paul. "Candidate Profile: Matt Jelly," The Hamilton Spectator, November 7, 2003, Local News, A5.
7. ^ ^{a b c} Nolan, Dan. "McHattie topples Caplan; New councillor says it's 'overwhelming'," The Hamilton Spectator, November 11, 2003, Local News, A5.