Bob Morrow
Robert Morrow | |
|---|---|
| Mayor of Hamilton, Ontario | |
| In office 1982–2000 | |
| Preceded by | William Powell |
| Succeeded by | Robert E. Wade |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 9, 1946 Hamilton, Ontario |
| Political party | Progressive Conservative |
| Spouse | Guay Bayliss (May 15, 1977) |
| Profession | Church Organist |
Robert Maxwell Morrow UE (born August 9, 1946) is a Canadian politician, who served as mayor of Hamilton, Ontario from 1982 to 2000. He was the longest-serving mayor in the city's history.[1]
Born in Hamilton, Morrow first won election in 1968 as alderman for Ward One. However, he was disqualified because his name was not on the voter's list. In a subsequent by-election, his father, George Morrow, secured the seat. Bob ran again in 1970, winning without legal difficulty.
In 1972, he won a seat on the Board of Control, a body that was elected citywide. In the following three elections, he placed first in the multi-candidate race, automatically becoming deputy mayor. When the board was abolished in 1980, Morrow temporarily left municipal politics. In 1981, he unsuccessfully ran as a Progressive Conservative candidate in the 1981 provincial election in Hamilton West, losing to provincial Liberal leader Stuart Smith.
In 1982, Morrow won the first of six mayoral elections, defeating incumbent William Powell. His last few victories were only challenged by minor candidates, with Morrow regularly receiving in excess of 75 per cent of the vote.
In 2000, following the amalgamation of the City of Hamilton with neighbouring towns, Morrow lost the election to Ancaster mayor Robert E. Wade. While Morrow again won the old City of Hamilton, he did not win the newly added boroughs.
In 2004, he was appointed as a citizenship judge, and he served two terms, retiring in May 2010.[2]
He is currently serving as organist and Head of the Senior Choir of St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church in downtown Hamilton.
Ward 3 city councillor Bernie Morelli died on January 14, 2014. A few weeks after his death, ward 4 City Councillor Sam Merulla put forward the motion to have former Mayor Bob Morrow fill the seat until the city's Fall election. Hamilton City Council approved the motion and appointed Bob Morrow to become the new, but temporary, councillor for the ward on February 7, 2014. To avoid any conflict or confusion, Morrow sent a letter to city council, saying he would not seek the seat in the city's October 2014 election. He will fill the seat until the municipal election.
References
- ^ "1983-2000 - Robert Maxwell Morrow". Retrieved 2012-06-04.
- ^ Finally, a low-key Canada Day for Bob Morrow The Hamilton Spectator, June 30, 2010 [dead link]
