Top Row:  D. Nesbit, J.P. Carney, Dr. Hatton

Bottom Row:  G.B. Jameson, G.B. Johnston (Mayor), S. Greenwood, W. Armstrong

 

Historical Council Minutes

• December 14, 1908 - June 7, 1909 

• June 21, 1909 - December 23, 1909

 

 

 

The first Council election in the Town of Melfort was held July 16, 1907 in the Ozark Hall.  To be eligible to run for Mayor or Councillor, one had to be a male British subject of 21 years, able to read and write, reside within two miles of the municipal limits and own property at the time of the election (the land being of freehold read estate within the municipality of at least $500 or leasehold estate within the municipality of at least $1,500).  By nomination day on July 9th there were three candidates nominated for mayor (G.B. Johnston, W.W. Rutan and A.E. Wild, who dropped out of the race) and ten candidates nominated for councillor (S.G. Greenwood, G.B. Jameson, R.R. King, D. Nesbitt, Captain J.A. Turner, T.A. Humphries, J. Hatton, J.T. Carney, W.H. Armstrong and Wm. Flett). 

Electors had to be 21 years of age and own or occupy land within the limits of the town for at least three months prior to the election.  There were 129 votes cast in the first election.  Mr. Johnston, the victor and Melfort's first mayor, received 66 votes.  Mr. Rutan received 56 and the remaining 7 votes were spoiled and not counted.  Nine married women voted and although their votes were challenged, they were counted.  In the election of councillors, G.B. Jameson led the poll with 101 votes out of a possible 122.