Anne Marie DeCicco-Best
Encyclopedia
Anne Marie DeCicco-Best (born April 1964) was the 60th mayor
of London, Ontario
, Canada
.
DeCicco graduated from Fanshawe College
's broadcast journalism program in 1986 and worked for CHYR
in Leamington, Ontario
, before returning in 1987 to work at CJBK and CJBX
, a country music
station in London as a reporter covering city hall. She also later taught at Fanshawe.
DeCicco was first elected to London City Council
in 1991 as a councillor in Ward Five, becoming the youngest person ever to serve there, after former Ward Five councillor Grant Hopcroft made the jump to the Board of Control.
In 1996 she was an avid supporter of London's bid for the 2001 Canada Summer Games, which were subsequently awarded to London. In 1997, after two, three-year terms as a ward councillor, she topped the polls when she was elected to the London Board of Control and acted as deputy mayor and budget chief to Dianne Haskett
, whom she succeeded as mayor in the 2000 election. She was re-elected to a second term in 2003.
She also serves on the board of governors of the University of Western Ontario
(UWO) and the London Police Services Board.
On June 17, 2006, DeCicco married Tim Best, a 44-year-old native Londoner who'd previously lived in Texas, that she first met at the John Labatt Centre
in downtown London during the 2005 Memorial Cup
hockey championship.
On November 13, 2006, DeCicco-Best was re-elected for a third consecutive term as the mayor of London in the 2006 municipal election
. Her main opponent was former London North-Centre Liberal Member of Parliament Joe Fontana
. Her victory in this election, with its four-year term mandated by the province of Ontario
, made DeCicco-Best the longest-serving mayor in London's history, in office for 10 consecutive years.
On October 25, 2010, Fontana defeated DeCicco-Best by a margin of just two per cent 2010 municipal election
.
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
DeCicco graduated from Fanshawe College
Fanshawe College
Fanshawe College is one of the largest colleges in Ontario, Canada. The main campus is in London, Ontario, with additional campuses in Simcoe, St. Thomas, Woodstock, and Tillsonburg. There are about 15,000 full-time students and 40,000 part-time students. Fanshawe College has more than 112,000 alumni...
's broadcast journalism program in 1986 and worked for CHYR
CHYR-FM
CHYR-FM is a Canadian radio station, which airs at 96.7 FM in Leamington, Ontario. The station airs a hot adult contemporary format branded as Mix 96.7.-History:...
in Leamington, Ontario
Leamington, Ontario
Leamington is a municipality in Essex County, southern Ontario, Canada, and has a population of 31,113. It includes Point Pelee, the southernmost point of mainland Canada. It has a large H. J. Heinz Company factory and is known as the "Tomato Capital of Canada", with 4 km² of this crop in the...
, before returning in 1987 to work at CJBK and CJBX
CJBX-FM
CJBX-FM is a country music radio station in London, Ontario, branded as "BX93". The station is owned by Astral Media and has studios on 743 Wellington Road South, along with CIQM, CJBK and CKSL...
, a country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
station in London as a reporter covering city hall. She also later taught at Fanshawe.
DeCicco was first elected to London City Council
London City Council
London City Council is the governing body of the city of London, Ontario, Canada.-Composition:One Councillor represents each of the 14 city wards along with the Mayor,Joe Fontana resulting in a 15-member city council....
in 1991 as a councillor in Ward Five, becoming the youngest person ever to serve there, after former Ward Five councillor Grant Hopcroft made the jump to the Board of Control.
In 1996 she was an avid supporter of London's bid for the 2001 Canada Summer Games, which were subsequently awarded to London. In 1997, after two, three-year terms as a ward councillor, she topped the polls when she was elected to the London Board of Control and acted as deputy mayor and budget chief to Dianne Haskett
Dianne Haskett
Dianne Louise Haskett was mayor of London, Ontario, Canada, from 1994 to 2000. She served two, three-year mayoral terms, making a priority of downtown revitalization, heritage preservation, economic development, neighbourhood protection, protecting the environment, international relations, trade...
, whom she succeeded as mayor in the 2000 election. She was re-elected to a second term in 2003.
She also serves on the board of governors of the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
(UWO) and the London Police Services Board.
On June 17, 2006, DeCicco married Tim Best, a 44-year-old native Londoner who'd previously lived in Texas, that she first met at the John Labatt Centre
John Labatt Centre
The John Labatt Centre is a sports-entertainment centre, in London, Ontario, Canada -- the largest such centre in southwestern Ontario.The John Labatt Centre, usually referred to as the "JLC", opened on October 11, 2002. It is named after John Labatt, founder of the Labatt brewery in London...
in downtown London during the 2005 Memorial Cup
Memorial Cup
The Memorial Cup is a junior ice hockey club championship trophy awarded annually to the Canadian Hockey League champion. It is awarded following a four-team, round robin tournament between a host team and the champions of the CHL's three member leagues: the Ontario Hockey League , Quebec Major...
hockey championship.
On November 13, 2006, DeCicco-Best was re-elected for a third consecutive term as the mayor of London in the 2006 municipal election
Ontario municipal elections, 2006
In the 2006 municipal elections in Ontario, voters in the province of Ontario, elected mayors, councillors, school board trustees and all other elected officials in all of Ontario's municipalities. These elections were regulated by the .- Date :...
. Her main opponent was former London North-Centre Liberal Member of Parliament Joe Fontana
Joe Fontana
Joseph Frank "Joe" Fontana, PC is the current mayor of London, Ontario. He was previously a Liberal member of the Parliament of Canada for the riding of London North Centre....
. Her victory in this election, with its four-year term mandated by the province of Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, made DeCicco-Best the longest-serving mayor in London's history, in office for 10 consecutive years.
On October 25, 2010, Fontana defeated DeCicco-Best by a margin of just two per cent 2010 municipal election
Ontario municipal elections, 2010
The 2010 municipal elections in Ontario were held on October 25, 2010.Voters in the province of Ontario elected mayors, councillors, school board trustees and all other elected officials in all of the province's municipalities....
.