The 1914 Calgary municipal election took place on December 14, 1914 to elect a Mayor to a one year term and six Aldermen on a two-year term, to sit on the thirtieth Calgary City Council. Additionally a Commissioner, members for the Public School Board, members for the Separate School Board, two borrowing bylaws and a plebiscite on church taxation were included on the ballot.
There were six Alderman positions contested for a two-year term for the election as Edward Henry Crandell, Harold William Hounsfield Riley, Stanley Gordon Freeze, Thomas Alfred Presswood Frost, and William Ross Sr. were elected for two-year terms in 1913.
Background The election was held under multiple non-transferable vote where each elector was able to cast a ballot for the mayor, commissioner and six ballots for Aldermen who were elected at-large with the city as one large district. Half of Calgary's twelve Aldermen were elected to two year terms each year.
Three votes on a question were present during the election, two borrowing bylaws to purchase the stockyards for $240,000 and contraction of a Fourth Street West subway below the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks for $195,147 both failed to garner the two-thirds support necessary. A Plebiscite on the taxation of church property failed to garner the required support of half of voters.
Voting franchise was open to all men or women listed on the city's assessment roll with real property valued over $400.
A single one-year alderman position was opened on council following Costello's resignation halfway through his two year term to run for mayor. The one-year alderman term was to be a separate ballot; however, on nomination day on December 7, 1914, Douglas Ralph Crichton was the only candidate to file a nomination for the position. Crichton was subsequently elected by acclamation for the one-year term.
Results Mayor Candidate Votes Percent Michael Copps Costello 4,019 William George Hunt 2,219 Alexander Allan 820
Commissioner Candidate Votes Percent James Hay Garden 3,923 Adoniram Judson Samis 3,057
Councillors Candidate Votes Percent Isaac Gideon Ruttle 4,536 James Abel Hornby 4,486 John Leslie Jennison 4,361 John William Mitchell 4,460 Arthur Walter Ellson Fawkes 3,977 John Sidney Arnold 3,820 George J. Bryan 3,676 S.J. Blair 2,635 James Smalley 2,899 J. Rae 2,772 Robert John Tallon 2,763
School board trustee Public school board Candidate Votes Percent John Thomas MacDonald 4,578 George William Kerby 4,233 William McCartney Davidson 4,007 J.H. Birch 3,729 Alex Ross 3,504 James A. Walker 2,922 Robert Eldon Campbell 2,820 James Short 2,386 J. Webster 1,432
Separate school board Candidate Votes Percent J.B. Creagon 330 George Demetrio Venini 235 F.J. Conroy 182 G.J. Calhoun
Plebiscite Stockyard purchase Bylaw proposing to purchase the stockyards for $240,000, requiring two-thirds of eligible voters. For - 2,655 Against - 2,165
Fourth street subway Construction of a subway below the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks at Fourth Street West for $195,147, requiring two-thirds of eligible voters. For - 2,769 Against - 2,049
Taxation of church property Plebiscite on taxation of church property, requiring a majority of eligible electors. For - 2,867 Against - 3,571
See also List of Calgary municipal elections
References