Hugh Calder - Politics

Politics

Calder's first bid for political office took place during the February 1912 municipal election, when he ran to fill one of ten aldermanic seats available on Edmonton City Council. He finished eleventh of eighteen, but the terms of the just-effected merger between Edmonton and Strathcona stipulated that at least three of the aldermen come from the south side of the North Saskatchewan River. Only two of the top ten (John Tipton and Thomas J. Walsh) were, so Calder was elected to the third spot instead of the tenth place D. B. Campbell. Because of the amalgamation, an entire new council was being elected (Edmonton's councils were normally elected five members at a time for two year terms) and the five councillors with the fewest votes were only elected to one year terms, meaning that Calder had to seek re-election in December of that year. He finished eighth of seventeen candidates; only five councillors were to be elected, but Calder benefited again from the provision requiring south side representation; since none of the candidates to finish ahead of him were from the south side, Calder was re-elected.

He was up for re-election again in the 1914 election, in which there were six, rather than five, seat available due to the resignation of Alexander Campbell. Calder finished sixth, good enough to win Campbell's seat and serve the remaining year in his term; however, Calder was instead elected to a two year term as the top finishing south side candidate. He did not seek re-election at the conclusion of this term.