1974 Toronto municipal election

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The 1974 Toronto municipal election was held on December 2, 1974 in Metropolitan Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Mayors, controllers, city councillors and school board trustees were elected in the municipalities of Toronto, York, East York, North York, Etobicoke and Scarborough. David Crombie was re elected as Mayor of Toronto with around 83% of the vote, and Mel Lastman was re elected as Mayor of North York.

Ward 9 Alderman Reid Scott resigned upon appointment as provincial judge August 6, 1976. Dorothy Thomas now became sole Alderman and was appointed Metro Councillor on August 18.

Esther Shiner and Robert Yuill were re elected aldermen for Wards 2 and 4 respectively. Peter Caruso served on the North York Board of Education from 1974 to 1978, and again from 1980 to 1982. He was a business evaluator in private life, and owned Equity Reality Ltd. in the 1980s. He was first elected in 1974, defeating William Higgins to become the Separate School Representative for Area One. Re elected in 1976, he lost his seat to Leonardo Cianfarani in 1978. He was re elected for Area Two in 1980. In 1982, Toronto Separate School trustee Antonio Signoroni accused fellow trustee Joseph Marrese of being involved in a conflict of interest situation with Caruso. Marrese and Caruso were cousins and shared a business office, and Marrese had previously voted for contracts that went to Caruso's firm. Both Marrese and Caruso acknowledged the contracts, but denied any wrongdoing. Marrese argued that he had never shown preference to Caruso and questioned Signoroni's motives in raising the matter, noting that another of his relatives was challenging Signoroni in the 1982 campaign. Marrese was re elected, but Caruso lost his seat on the North York board to Maria Augimeri. William Higgins served on the North York Board of Education from 1972 to 1974, as one of the board's first two Separate School Representatives following reforms by the provincial government of Bill Davis. Higgins was 23 years old at the time of his election, and was a high school history teacher in private life. He was also a representative on the Ontario English Teachers' Catholic Association. He defeated Donald Clune to win election in 1972, and was defeated by Peter Caruso in 1974. He later sought election 1976, but finished fourth against Jim Travers in Area Two. In 2000, a retired person named Bill Higgins campaigned unsuccessfully for the Toronto Catholic District School Board's fifth ward. It is assumed that this is the same person. Electors could vote for two candidates. The percentages are determined in relation to the total number of votes. There may be a transcription error in the result for Carl Anderson (the last two numbers were partly obscured). Dunn and McConvey ran as a team, and described themselves as "sound administration" candidates. A newspaper advertisement from 1974 lists their accomplishments on the Hydro Commission, and indicated that they did not incur any debt. John Rankin Dunn was a professional engineer, and an employee of Lake Engineering Ltd. He was first elected to the Hydro Commission in 1966, and served until shortly after the 1976 election when, at age sixty, he was appointed to the Ontario Energy Board. Dunn died on June 2, 2000. D'arcy McConvey was a professional engineer, and was the founder and president of the Dalex Corporation. He sought re election in 1980, but was unsuccessful. D. Carl Anderson was a school principal in private life. He was made a fellow of the Ontario Teachers' Federation in 1976, and an Honorary Life Member of the Ontario Public School Teachers' Federation in 1987. He first sought election to the North York Hydro Commission in 1974, and finished third. He placed third again in 1976, but was appointed by council to the commission following the election when incumbent commissioner John Dunn resigned to take a position on the Ontario Energy Board. He also served as chairman of Ontario's Municipal Electrical Association during the 1980s, and sat on the board of directors of the American Public Power Association. He warned of a possible energy shortage in 1989, and recommended the immediate construction of new facilities. In 1994, he helped introduce hydro bill gift certificates for North York residents. Anderson was appointed to the board of Ontario Hydro in June 1995, He was listed as fifty seven years old in a 1988 newspaper article. Leon Donsky campaigned for the North York Hydro Board in 1964, 1966, 1969, 1972 and 1974, losing each time. A 1964 newspaper article identifies him as a thirty four year old electrical technology graduate from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute. Alex Davis (also called Alec Davis) campaigned for the North York Hydro Board in 1974 and 1976, and ran for the North York Board of education in 1978. A newspaper article from the latter campaign lists him as a forty nine year old telecommunications manager. He supported completion of the Spadina Expressway. He led a sub committee to draft a smoking control by law in 1984. Bernard Birman ran for the North York Hydro Board in 1972 and 1974, losing both times. Peter Slattery was a first time candidate. William (Bill) Lynch campaigned for the North York City Council in 1969, and for the Hydro Council in 1974, 1980 and 1982. He was a member of the Liberal Party, although he campaigned as an independent. A newspaper article from his first campaign lists him as a thirty eight year old car salesman. John (Jack) V. Newton was elected as a North York School Trustee in 1962, and was re elected in 1964 and 1966 before losing to Margaret Grant in 1969. He supported religious teaching in the public system. He campaigned for the North York City Council in 1972 and the Hydro Commission in 1974, and lost both times. A report from the 1972 election lists him as a metallurgical engineer and sales co ordinator for the metal industry, and a member of the Progressive Conservative Party. He tried to return to the Board of Education in 1976, and was again defeated. Results taken from the Toronto Star, 3 December 1974. The final official results were not significantly different.

In Scarborough, Paul Cosgrove was re elected as Mayor of Scarborough.