2010 Hamilton, Ontario, municipal election

The 2010 Hamilton municipal election was held on October 25, 2010, to select one mayor, fifteen members of the Hamilton, Ontario City Council and members of both English and French public and Catholic school boards. Nominations opened on January 4, 2010, and ran until September 10, 2010.

Hamiltonians elected their third mayor in as many elections, choosing former Ward 2 Councillor Bob Bratina over Larry Di Ianni (mayor 2003–2006) and incumbent mayor Fred Eisenberger, who had served in the role since 2006. The council election to succeed Bratina in Ward 2 drew 20 candidates, while Ward 14 Councillor Robert Patsuta was acclaimed. Only one incumbent councillor was defeated: Brenda Johnstone defeated long-time councillor Dave Mitchell in Ward 11. Many Catholic school board trustees were defeated by first-time candidates.

New measures Council backed a measure to elect the boards of Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs),Bowes, Gord. "Hamilton council backs calls for elected hospital boards," The Hamilton Mountain News, October 24, 2008, Local NewsCavanagh, Kevin. "Of hospitals and politics," The Hamilton Spectator, October 20, 2008, Local NewsMcGuniness, Eric. "Transparency sought: Council wants elected hospital boards," The Hamilton Spectator, October 17, 2008, Local News a move that was in response to the LHIN affair,Campbell, Craig. "LHIN board member resigns over lack of scrutiny," The Dundas Star, October 3, 2010, Local NewsOntario's New Democrats. "Horwath calls for directly elected hospital board," Ontario New Democratic Party, (accessed June 5, 2010) though this did not occur in time for the 2010 election.

There was speculation that this election was to include a new 16th council seat, that would encompass southern portions of Wards 6, 7 and 8, and the northern portion of Ward 11.De Lazzer, Rachel. "Can of Worms? Plan for a new Mountain ward aims for a more equal voter representation," The Hamilton Spectator, October 23, 2008, Local News The new ward would have included the area to be developed as part of the controversial "Aerotropolis" industrial development plan, though that plan was abandoned in favour of a study of all ward boundaries following the election.

Bill 212, passed by the Ontario Legislature, moved municipal elections from the first Monday in November to the fourth Monday in October, shortening the campaign period by two weeks and moving close of nominations to September 10, 2010.

Mayoral election Eisenberger's upset victory in 2006, his perceived 'weak governing' style in dealing with council and the Pan Am Games Stadium debate sparked vigorous debate over challengers and led to the largest number of candidates filing to run for the office of mayor in the city's post-amalgamation history.Dreschel, Andrew. "Eisenberger's night of the long knives", The Hamilton Spectator, June 30, 2008, Opinion.DiFalco, Cal. "Leadership style through trial and error," The Hamilton Spectator, October 24, 2007, Opinion.The Hamilton Spectator. "Leaders must have the courage to lead," The Hamilton Spectator, May 12, 2007, Opinion.MacIntyre, Nicole. "Mayor Fred: For and against", The Hamilton Spectator, November 12, 2008, Local News (A1).

Candidates

Michael Baldasaro, leader of the Church of the Universe Bob Bratina, city councillor for Ward 2 (Downtown) Mahesh Butani, developerButani, Mahesh, "Personal Profile," Raise the Hammer, (Accessed June 7, 2010) Larry Di Ianni, former mayor of Hamilton Fred Eisenberger, then mayor of Hamilton Pasquale Filice, photographer and lawyer Edward Graydon, blogger and businessmanGraydon, Edward H.C. "This piece is nice in any collection," Chinese Ceramic, November 12, 2009, Blogspot.com. (Accessed July 20, 2010). Andrew Haines, human rights activistHaines, Andrew, "Herbacide (sic)", Cannabis Culture Online Forums, May 17, 2006. (Accessed June 7, 2010) Glenn Hamilton, businessman and property managerReilly, Emma. "Comment on 'Familiar Face'," Hall Marks with Emma Reilly, July 17, 2010. (Accessed July 28, 2010). Ken Leach Tone Marrone, actor and former offensive lineman for the Hamilton Tiger-CatsTassi, Peter. "Tone Marrone: Actor and Screenwriter," One Big Beautiful Family, 2010. (Accessed September 4, 2010). Gino Speziale, tool and die maker Victor Veri, farmerOntario Legislature. "Proceedings Transcript 03-30-94," Legislative Assembly of Ontario, March 30, 1994. (Accessed August 25, 2010). Steven Waxman, businessmanWaxy's Delicatessen. "About us," Waxy's Delicatessen, 2010. (Accessed September 10, 2010). Mark Wozny

Campaign

Michael Baldasaro was the first candidate to file in early January and was later joined by self-proclaimed marijuana advocate Andrew Haines.Macleod, Meredith. "Race for mayor draws crowd," The Hamilton Spectator, September 11, 2010, News. Mahesh P. Butani filed his nomination in mid-April and Mayor Fred Eisenberger, having already confirmed he would be seeking a second term in mid-2008, filed on May 31.Dreschel, Andrew. "As Mayor Fred grows, so do the rumors," The Hamilton Spectator, March 24, 2008, Opinion.

Following months of speculation, former Mayor Larry Di Ianni announced that he would be standing in the mayoral election in an interview with the Hamilton Spectator on July 26.Reilly, Emma. "Di Ianni taking on Eisenberger for mayor," The Hamilton Spectator July 26, 2010, Local News. Perennial joke candidate Marty Zulinak filed soon after, claiming that he would finance his campaign with money from returning used beer bottles.Campbell, Craig. "Dundasian enters seventh election," The Dundas Star News, August 5, 2010, News. He later dropped out and ran for Ward 13 (Dundas) city councillor.

The Pan Am Games Stadium controversy developed in August. Mayor Eisenberger took the side of the proposed West Harbour location on Hamilton's Waterfront. The ensuing local debate became so passionately heated that Eisenberger began receiving death threats, and council, after affirming their support for the West Harbour, reversed their decision and initiated a reevaluation of potential sites.Burman, John. "Death threat against mayor probed," The Hamilton Spectator, August 14, 2010, News. Though the mayor was commended by Toronto's Mayor David Miller and lauded as the week's boldest leader in The Globe and Mail,Lu, Vanessa. "Toronto mayor urges Ticats to rethink stand," The Toronto Star, August 13, 2010, News. his handling of the situation caused former New Democratic MP and MPP Ian Deans and Ward 2 (Downtown) Councillor Bob Bratina to announce they would be contesting the election.Newman, "Mark. Return of Ian Deans," Stoney Creek News, September 2, 2010, News.Dreschel, Andrew. "Bratina officially joins race for mayor," The Hamilton Spectator, September 3, 2010, Opinion.

Though Deans withdrew from the mayoral race on Thursday, September 9 to run for Ward 2 councillor,Reilly, Emma. "Bratina's mayoral bid ends Deans's aspirations," The Hamilton Spectator, September 10, 2010, News, A1. Eisenberger faced fourteen opposing candidates after the close of nominations on September 10, 2010.

On Thursday, October 7, following a debate at Sir John A. Macdonald High School, Edward Graydon unofficially dropped out of the race after fellow contender Andrew Haines told him to "smoke a joint". Graydon was outraged at the comments, and decided to withdraw from the race to support Larry Di Ianni, who came to his defence following Haines' comments. Di Ianni then asserted marijuana advocates should not be attending debates at high schools and school board officials announced they would be reiterating the school's official anti-drug policies the following day.Reilly, Emma. "High school debate goes to pot," The Hamilton Spectator, October 8, 2010, News, A3. Graydon continued to attend the mayoralty debates, and his name remained on the ballot, as the official withdrawal date had passed by the time he 'withdrew'.

Results

+ 52,684 40,091 38,719 2,892 1,052 5,736 Bratina Di Ianni Eisenberger Blds T.M. Others

!rowspan="2" colspan="2" |Candidate !colspan="3" |Popular vote

| style="text-align:left;" colspan="6" |Note: All Hamilton municipal elections are officially non-partisan. Note: Candidate campaign colours are based on the prominent colour used in campaign items (signs, literature, etc.)and are used as a visual differentiation between candidates.

| style="text-align:left;" colspan="13" |Sources: Hamilton, Ontario, City Clerk's Office

City council election

Ward One (Chedoke-Cootes)

2010 Hamilton, Ontario, municipal election

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