1988 Hamilton, Ontario, municipal election

The 1988 Hamilton municipal election was held on November 14, 1988 to elect a Regional Chairman, a Mayor, sixteen members to Hamilton, Ontario City Council, seventeen members to the Hamilton Board of Education and thirteen members to the Hamilton-Wentworth Roman Catholic Separate School Board.

Regional chairman election

| style="text-align:left;" colspan="6" |Note: The 1988 election was the first in which voters elected the regional chairman. 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: LeFaive, Doug. "New chairman tackles province," Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, November 15, 1988,Metro, B1

Mayoral election

The 1988 mayoral race was overshadowed by a number of events, namely aldermanic contests, the 1988 federal election and the first general election for the Hamilton-Wentworth regional chairman. The two-person race drew little attention from local media, with reporters and commentators noting that Church of the Universe minister Michael Baldasaro had little chance of defeating incumbent mayor Bob Morrow.Beth Marlin. "Morrow exit ended critical debate," Hamilton Spectator, Saturday, November 12, 1988, Metro, B3.

On election night, Morrow said that his return with over 90% of the vote was nearly an acclamation, while Baldasaro indicated that he would not stop contesting elections and advancing the use of marijuana.Brian Christmas. "Morrow swept back in with over 90% of the vote," Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, November 15, 1988, Metro, B1.

| style="text-align:left;" colspan="6" |Note 1: Each ward elected two aldermen and percentages are specific to each candidate, not for the overall total.Note 2: All Hamilton municipal elections are officially non-partisan. Note 3: 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: Christmas, Brian. "Morrow swept back in with over 90% of the vote,"The Hamilton Spectator, November 15, 1988, Metro, B2.

City council election

Ward One (West Hamilton-McMaster)

The 1988 election in Ward One saw tensions between homeowners and student residents come to the forefront of the campaign. In the summer of 1988, Hamilton, Ontario City Council passed a bylaw aimed at reducing the prominence of student houses in the area by limiting the number of unrelated tenants in a single family home to five. This decision angered the McMaster Students Union and prompted a concentrated effort on behalf of the undergraduate representative body to find a pro-student candidate to challenge incumbent aldermen Terry Cooke and Mary Kiss. Ultimately, the attempt was unsuccessful. MSU President Cyrus Barucha noted that "Our real hope was to find someone respected by both the community and the students...we had several people in mind, but none of them were willing to come forward.""Student housing number one issue", Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, November 8, 1988, Metro, B2.

While student housing in the area was a main issue, the incumbent candidates stood firmly on a platform of their track records. Cooke, a one-term alderman and, at the time, the youngest member of council, pushed for more affordable housing and improvements to the area's roads while fighting for fiscal responsibility. The Spectator noted that Cooke had attempted to secure over $250,000 in budget cuts in 1988.Age doesn't determine ward senior," Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, November 8, 1988, Metro, B2. Cooke's campaign slogan in 1988 was Practical Progressive Representation."Terry Cooke: Advertising feature," Hamilton Spectator, Saturday, November 12, 1988, Metro, B6.

Kiss maintained her track record of a champion for the people, while highlighting the importance of preserving both the unique neighbourhoods and environmental characteristics of Ward One. A two-term alderman at the time, Kiss faced considerable criticism from members of the community over her opposition to the construction of two three-storey apartment buildings on Broadway Avenue near McMaster University. A small group of residents disapproved of the proposal to change the site's zoning from light industrial to residential and stormed a meeting of city council where the issue was to be discussed. Kiss championed their cause, but was ultimately unsuccessful thanks to a ruling against their stand by the Ontario Municipal Board."Kiss known as backer of the people," Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, November 8, 1988, Metro, B2.

Challenger Neil Hughes was a local businessman and political activist, having worked on the campaigns of Lincoln Alexander and Victor Copps. Hughes was upset about a perceived attitude of favourability toward special interest groups by members of council and the handling of the student housing bylaw that he called "unenforceable".Video store owner hears dissatisfaction," Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, November 8, 1988, Metro, B2. Hughes mentioned during the campaign that if he was unable to unseat either Kiss or Cooke, he would seek election once more in 1991, which he ultimately did not do.

On election night, Cooke and Kiss were returned to council by a comfortable margin over Hughes. Cooke joked with Spectator reporter Mike Hanley that, if early results showed he was losing, people should look for him at the high-level bridge. Kiss commented that, despite placing second to Cooke for a second time, she was merely humbled to be elected to a third term.Hanley, Mike. "No need for trip to the High Level Bridge," Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, November 15, 1988, Metro, B2.

| style="text-align:left;" colspan="13" |Sources: Hanley, Mike. "No need for trip to the High Level Bridge", The Hamilton Spectator, November 15, 1988, Metro, B2.

Ward Two (Downtown)

Of the major issues facing Ward Two in the 1988 election, high-rise development, an aging population and the actions of the incumbent aldermen were at the forefront of the campaign. Traffic and parking issues were prominent as well, but more pressing were issues relating to the ward's long-time representatives.High senior number is unique problem," Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, November 8, 1988, Metro, B2.

Incumbent alderman Vince Agro had served in his capacity as one of Ward Two's two representatives at city hall since 1964, with only three years off from 1976 to 1979 after a failed mayoralty bid. The former teacher had come under fire for his campaign against the city's executive committee and was widely critiqued in the area for his support of a high-density senior's building near a popular local landmark, the Thistle Club. Agro also cited the completion of a park on the harbourfront and maintaining the Durand neighbourhood's character in the face of proposed high-rise developments. His main opposition came from residents of the city's Corktown and Stinson neighbourhoods, who were, "less than impressed with his efforts at ward healing.""Agro points to 22 years on council," Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, November 8, 1988, Metro, B2. Agro was a prominent Hamilton-area Liberal, garnering the support of Culture and Communications Minister Lily Munro and CHCH-TV reporter Stan Keyes, who would represent Hamilton West in Parliament from 1988 until 2004.Morrison, Suzanne, "McCulloch, Agro team re-elected in Ward 2," Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, November 15, 1988, Metro, B2.

1988 Hamilton, Ontario, municipal election

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