In the 1906 Toronto municipal election, held January 1, 1906, Alderman Emerson Coatsworth ran against Controller Frank S. Spence for mayor of Toronto. The position of mayor was open as incumbent Thomas Urquhart declined to run for re-election.
The main issue of the campaign was liquor licensing as Spence, a leading prohibitionist, advocated the curtailing of licensed establishments in the city. Coatsworth defeated Spence by 4,000 votes. Proposals to reduce the number of liquor licenses for taverns and liquor stores were both defeated.
Mayoral election
Results
Emerson Coatsworth - 16,371
Frank S. Spence - 12,328
Source:
Board of Control
Four members were elected to the Toronto Board of Control in an at-large vote. Three outgoing members were re-elected while Alfred Jones was elected to fill the vacancy caused by Controller Spence's decision to seek the mayoralty: Results William Peyton Hubbard (inc.) - 14,981 S. Alfred Jones - 14,981 J.J. Ward (inc.) - 13,779 John Shaw (inc.) - 12,524 Thomas Hastings - 11,019 Source:
Plebiscite
A referendum was held on a proposed by-law to reduce the number of liquor licenses in the city for both taverns and shops. The proposals were defeated: Tavern license reduction Yes - 13,039 No - 14,726 Liquor store license reduction Yes - 12,849:No - 14,839 Source:
Aldermen elected to City Council
Three alderman were elected to sit on Toronto City Council in each of six wards. First Ward Daniel Chisholm (inc.) - 1,976 Robert Fleming (inc.) - 1,665 William Temple Stewart (inc.) - 1,474 Edward Hales - 1,280 James Wilson - 1,221 J.M. Briggs - 180 Second Ward Joseph Oliver (inc.) - 1,715 Dr. John Noble (inc.) - 1,660 Tommy Church (inc.) - 1,590 Edward Strachan Cox - 1,507 James Hales - 1,358 David Carlyle - 1,137 Thomas Foster - 997 W.S. Johnston - 787 W.A. Douglass - 366 Frederick Burrows - 179 Third Ward George Reginald Geary (inc.) - 3,100 Oliver Barton Sheppard (inc.) - 2,603 Sam McBride (inc.) - 2,544 John Wilson Bengough - 2,375 Frank Moses - 1,122 J.A. Humphrey - 1,118 John Dunlop - 204 Fourth Ward Dr. D.W.S. Harrison (inc.) - 3,091 Robert Crawford Vaughan (inc.) - 3,009 George McMurrich - 2,385 Fred Dane - 2,170 E.J. Humphrey - 1,414 Edward Hanlan - 1,310 Fifth Ward John Dunn (inc.) - 2,849 John Bell Hay (inc.) - 2,263 Albert James Keeler (inc.) - 2,237 Frank Woods - 2,055 James Cooper Claxton- 2,055 Sixth Ward James Henry McGhie (inc.) - 2,417 John James Graham (inc.) - 2,071 John Henry Adams - 1,567 J. Harvey Hall - 1,065:Walter Mann - 742 D.R. Bell - 642 J.E. Stewart - 607 W.H. Warrington - 436 Thomas Cannon - 389 Robert Buist Noble - 191 Source: