Tom Murray (politician)
Encyclopedia
Tom Murray is a politician in Hamilton
, Ontario
, Canada
. He was an alderman
for Ward 8 between 1982 and 1991, and later campaigned for mayor of the city. By profession, he is an electrician with Dofasco
(Hamilton Spectator, 14 November 1991).
, and came to Canada with his family at age three. He was raised in a family that supported the left-wing New Democratic Party
, and was initially elected to council as an NDP supporter (Spectator, 30 October 1997 and 7 November 2003). His ideology shifted to the right during his time in office, however, and he expressed socially conservative
views on several occasions. He called for the restoration of the death penalty in 1991, and was a vocal opponent of plans to bring gender-neutral language to city positions (Hamilton Spectator, 9 October 1991).
He was a controversial figure on council, and was sometimes accused of uncivil and aggressive behaviour toward his colleagues. He was involved in a 1991 parking-lot altercation with fellow councillor Dave Wilson, and on another occasion described councillor Dominic Agostino
as a "political prostitute" (Hamilton Spectator, 9 November 1991). Terry Cooke, a leading politician in the city, once described Murray as a "political bully". Other councillors, including Cooke's longtime rival Henry Merling, were more supportive.
He chaired the Hamilton Parks and Recreation Committee in the late 1980s, and favoured a total ban of smoking in recreational areas in 1988 (Globe and Mail, 7 January 1988). He was appointed to the Hamilton-Wentworth Police Services Board in 1989, and remained a member until his defeat at the polls in 1991.
He attempted to return to council in 1994 and 1997, but was defeated both times. In 2002, he appeared at a campaign rally in support of Ernie Eves
's bid to lead the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
(Spectator, 22 February 2002).
Murray launched a bid to become mayor of Hamilton in 2003, emphasizing infrastructure and "law and order" issues. He argued that he would cut subsidies to professional sports teams in order to pay for the city's police and firefighters, and supported construction of the Red Hill Creek Expressway (Spectator, 3 May and 7 November 2003). Some considered him a spoiler candidate, and argued that he would take support away from right-leaning candidate Larry Di Ianni
(Spectator, 29 October 2003). Late in the campaign, Murray told the media that a Di Ianni supporter had offered him financial support if he would withdraw from the contest and run for council instead (Spectator, 1 November 2003).
Murray was fifty years old during his mayoral campaign. He finished well behind frontrunners Di Ianni and David Christopherson
, placing fifth and receiving just over two percent.
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
, 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....
, 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...
. He was an alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
for Ward 8 between 1982 and 1991, and later campaigned for mayor of the city. By profession, he is an electrician with Dofasco
Dofasco
Dofasco is a steel company based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, which is also home to longtime Canadian rival Stelco. Dofasco is currently a standalone subsidiary of ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steel producer. Previously ordered by the U.S...
(Hamilton Spectator, 14 November 1991).
City Councillor
Murray was born in ScotlandScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, and came to Canada with his family at age three. He was raised in a family that supported the left-wing New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
, and was initially elected to council as an NDP supporter (Spectator, 30 October 1997 and 7 November 2003). His ideology shifted to the right during his time in office, however, and he expressed socially conservative
Social conservatism
Social Conservatism is primarily a political, and usually morally influenced, ideology that focuses on the preservation of what are seen as traditional values. Social conservatism is a form of authoritarianism often associated with the position that the federal government should have a greater role...
views on several occasions. He called for the restoration of the death penalty in 1991, and was a vocal opponent of plans to bring gender-neutral language to city positions (Hamilton Spectator, 9 October 1991).
He was a controversial figure on council, and was sometimes accused of uncivil and aggressive behaviour toward his colleagues. He was involved in a 1991 parking-lot altercation with fellow councillor Dave Wilson, and on another occasion described councillor Dominic Agostino
Dominic Agostino
Dominic Agostino was a Canadian politician who represented the riding of Hamilton East for the Liberal Party in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1995 until his death in 2004.-Biography:...
as a "political prostitute" (Hamilton Spectator, 9 November 1991). Terry Cooke, a leading politician in the city, once described Murray as a "political bully". Other councillors, including Cooke's longtime rival Henry Merling, were more supportive.
He chaired the Hamilton Parks and Recreation Committee in the late 1980s, and favoured a total ban of smoking in recreational areas in 1988 (Globe and Mail, 7 January 1988). He was appointed to the Hamilton-Wentworth Police Services Board in 1989, and remained a member until his defeat at the polls in 1991.
Since 1991
Murray was found guilty of impersonating a police officer in 1992, when a court determined he had flashed his police commissioner's badge to a taxi driver while ordering her to leave an area that was blocking his car (Spectator, 22 July 1992). The conviction was later overturned on a technicality (Spectator, 23 January 1993). Murray denied the accusation, and described the result as a vindication of his position.He attempted to return to council in 1994 and 1997, but was defeated both times. In 2002, he appeared at a campaign rally in support of Ernie Eves
Ernie Eves
Ernest Lawrence "Ernie" Eves was the 23rd Premier of the province of Ontario, Canada, from April 15, 2002, to October 23, 2003.-Beginnings:...
's bid to lead the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario , is a right-of-centre political party in Ontario, Canada. The party was known for many years as "Ontario's natural governing party." It has ruled the province for 80 of the years since Confederation, including an uninterrupted run from 1943 to 1985...
(Spectator, 22 February 2002).
Murray launched a bid to become mayor of Hamilton in 2003, emphasizing infrastructure and "law and order" issues. He argued that he would cut subsidies to professional sports teams in order to pay for the city's police and firefighters, and supported construction of the Red Hill Creek Expressway (Spectator, 3 May and 7 November 2003). Some considered him a spoiler candidate, and argued that he would take support away from right-leaning candidate Larry Di Ianni
Larry Di Ianni
Larry Di Ianni served as mayor of Hamilton, Ontario, from 2003 to 2006.-Early life:Di Ianni immigrated to Canada from Italy as a young boy. Di Ianni has previously worked as a high school teacher and principal...
(Spectator, 29 October 2003). Late in the campaign, Murray told the media that a Di Ianni supporter had offered him financial support if he would withdraw from the contest and run for council instead (Spectator, 1 November 2003).
Murray was fifty years old during his mayoral campaign. He finished well behind frontrunners Di Ianni and David Christopherson
David Christopherson
David Christopherson is a Canadian politician. Since 2004, he has represented the riding of Hamilton Centre in the Canadian House of Commons. He previously served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1990 to 2003, and was a cabinet minister in the provincial government of Bob Rae...
, placing fifth and receiving just over two percent.