Municipal elections were held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on January 5, 1903. In the mayoral election, Alderman Thomas Urquhart defeated incumbent Mayor Oliver Aiken Howland, who was attempting to win a third term in office. Urquhart's platform included operating the telephone and gas systems under city management. Urquhart had the support of the Toronto Trades and Labour Council."URQUHART STAYS IN FIELD: TELLS EAST ENDERS HE WILL NOT RETIRE Supported by Labor Men-- Aid. Lamb and the Zoo Mayor Howland an Obstructionist Policy of Progress", The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]03 Jan 1903: 28 Alderman Lamb came in third."UBQUHART IS MAYOR BY A SAFE MAJORITY: Defeats Mayor Howland In a Closely-fought Contest-- Aid. Lamb a Good Third, With Robinson Nowhere-- Aid. McMurrich, Alex. Stewart and Harvey Hall Were Unsuccessful-- Seven New Men in Council-- Dr. Ogden, the Veteran Trustee, Among the Vanquished", The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]06 Jan 1903: 12
(Later, in 1903 the Ontario legislature passed a law requiring municipal boards of control to be chosen through direct election by the municipality's voters. This law came into effect for the Toronto city administration in the January 1904 election.)
Toronto mayor
Results Alderman Thomas Urquhart - 8,634 Oliver Aiken Howland (incumbent) - 7,887 Alderman Daniel Lamb - 6,473 Christopher C. Robinson - 914 Charles Christopher Woodley - 428
Source: and "THE MUNICIPAL CAMPAIGN", The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]31 Dec 1902: 5
Board of Control 1903 was the last year in which the Toronto Board of Control, the executive body of Toronto City Council was not directly elected. At the first council meeting following the general election, council chose Aldermen Loudon, Oliver, Burns and Richardson to sit on the body, which was chaired by the Mayor."FIRST MEETING OF NEW COUNCIL: Board of Control Elected on the First Ballot THE MAYOR'S INAUGURAL Wm. Burns, Loudon, Oliver and Richardson Mayor Urquhart Urges More Power For the Board of Control-- The Standing Committees and Their Chairmen", The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]13 Jan 1903: 4
Plebiscites A plebiscite was held on a by-law to authorize expenditure on a modern pumping engine for the city's waterworks Waterworks by-law For - 5,615 Against - 2,730 Source:
City council
Four aldermen were elected to Toronto City Council in each of six wards. Former mayor John Shaw attempted to win an aldermanic seat in the Third Ward, but was defeated.
First Ward (Riverdale) William Temple Stewart (incumbent) - 1,518 Daniel Chisholm - 1,515 Robert Fleming (incumbent) - 1,407 Fred H. Richardson (incumbent) - 1,255 John Preston - 1,100
Second Ward (Cabbagetown and Rosedale) Frank S. Spence (incumbent) - 1,932 Joseph Oliver (incumbent) - 1,883 Dr. John Noble - 1,781 Thomas Foster (incumbent) - 1,583 Edward Strachan Cox - 1,426 David Carlyle - 1,136 Thomas Davies - 624 W.A. Douglass - 594 Frederick Hogg - 585
Third Ward (Central Business District and The Ward) John F. Loudon (incumbent) - 2,814 Oliver Barton Sheppard (incumbent) - 2,788 Joseph George Ramsden- 2,356 Samuel George Curry (incumbent) - 2,154 George McMurrich (incumbent) - 2,035 John Shaw - 1,968 John Patterson - 196
Fourth Ward (Spadina) William Burns (incumbent) -2,770 William Peyton Hubbard (incumbent) - 2,585 Dr. William S. Harrison - 2,582 Stephen Wellesley Burns - 2,469 Alex R. Williamson - 1,731 Lieut-Col. Norman F. Paterson - 1,535 Edmund Schilling - 258
Fifth Ward (Trinity-Bellwoods) James Russell Lovett Starr - 2,508 John Dunn (incumbent) - 2,435 William Bell (incumbent) - 1,958 Frank Woods (incumbent) - 1,864 Peter Whytock - 1,594 Alexander Stewart (incumbent) - 1,353 M.J. Mallaney - 391
Sixth Ward (Brockton and Parkdale) James Henry McGhie - 1,999 Jonn Joseph Ward (incumbent) - 1,736 John James Graham (incumbent) - 1,696 Dr. Adam Lynd (incumbent) - 1,359 J.H. Hall (incumbent) - 1,238
Source: and ALDERMEN AND TRUSTEES NOMINATED: Contests in Every Ward-- Ex-Mayor John Shaw in the Field in the Third Ward-- Municipal Ownership Chief Topic at the Public Meetings --Thirteen School Trustees to be Elected-- Four Aldermen Not Seeking Re-election, The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]30 Dec 1902: 4.
References Results taken from the January 6, 1903 Toronto Globe and might not exactly match final tallies.