Oct. 4, 1980: Colourful mayoral candidates turn election into circus
The 1980 municipal election was something of a threering circus with colourful candidates John Horobec, Eddie Keehn and John Buttrey in the centre ring running for mayor.
Critics complained the problem was a lack of serious candidates other than incumbent Mayor Cec Purves. His challengers included Murray Trott, a 21-year-old student who said being mayor “would give me something to do in the fall”; Lester Adams, 62, a retired steam engineer who ran because he thought no one else would; anti-pornography crusader Keehn, 42; and “honest man” Horobec.
Keehn, a roofing contractor, said he would give healthy transients or welfare recipients 48 hours to leave town if they didn’t want to pick up a shovel and work.
He also promised to cut council salaries, force drivers by threat of fines to form car pools, and eliminate lotteries and gambling.
Horobec, a 52-year-old cab driver who urged voters to put an “honest man” in City Hall, accused Purves of hiring boys to put “sugar and other acids in my car so it doesn’t work.”
He also accused aldermen of creating traffic jams and crime, and declared the light rail transit system “stinks.”
But it was Buttrey, a 54-year-old carpenter, who claimed to have been in prisons and mental institutions, whose antics usually put him at centre stage.
Two city police officers and a paddy wagon were called to one political forum to remove Buttrey after he refused to stop shouting at Purves, who had arrived late to deliver his speech. Police detained Buttrey for about 15 minutes before letting him go.
But some citizens were concerned enough about the mayor’s safety at election forums to contact police Chief Bob Lunney, who assigned several plainclothes officers to protect Purves.
Buttrey’s free television commercial made national headlines after it was pulled by the city election officer because viewers complained about him sticking out his tongue and giving a loud Bronx cheer.
He also suggested pimps should be painted purple, heckled opponents, and sang tunes such as the politically incorrect Mammy during his campaign speeches.
Municipal Affairs Minister Marvin Moore accused Edmonton’s nuisance mayoralty candidates of undermining the democratic process and taking advantage of the fact they needed only five signatures from eligible electors who supported their nomination and a $100 deposit to run. (The city kicked in $1,600 each toward their advertising costs.)
Some aldermanic candidates suggested increasing signatures to 500 and the deposit to $1,000.
Candidates currently must obtain at least 100 signatures and pay a $500 deposit fee.
Purves was easily re-elected in 1980 with 52,035 votes. Keehn finished with 2,938, Horobec with 1,575, and Buttrey with 1,249.