The 2003 Hamilton municipal election was held on November 10, 2003 to elect municipal officials in Hamilton, Ontario. The most high-profile contest was for the mayoral office. Candidates also campaigned for city council and for school trustee positions.
Larry Di Ianni was first elected to Stoney Creek city council in 1982, where he served until the 2000 amalgamation of Stoney Creek into Hamilton. He then served as a Hamilton councillor until November 2003. Di Ianni's major policies included the completion of the Red Hill Creek Expressway, business tax reduction, airport development, improving relations among the amalgamated municipalities, and obtaining additional social service funding from the more senior levels of government.
David Christopherson was elected to Hamilton, Ontario City Council in 1985, where he served until 1990, when he was elected to the Ontario Legislature as a New Democrat, where he served, both in government and opposition until 2003. During the NDP's tenure in government from 1990 to 1995, Christopherson held the positions of Minister of Correctional Services and Solicitor-General.
Dick Wildeman was a 61-year-old PhD in pharmacology, and former director of Pharmaceutical Sciences at McMaster University Medical Centre. He led a de-amalgamation slate in the election, attempting to reverse a 2000 decision by the provincial government to amalgamate Hamilton with the neighbouring municipalities of Dundas, Ancaster, Stoney Creek, Flamborough and Glanbrook. His vision on how to do so, though, attempted to recreate the version of local government utilized in 1975, where rural communities bought services from the Hamilton municipality and contributed to 80% of the cost. Local media berated his plan, saying there was "a troubling lack of clarity in how Wildeman envisions" demalgamation and that he "doesn't have what it takes to be mayor of the city of Hamilton," because of "huge disconnects in [his] logic."
Michael Peters was a 36-year-old first-time candidate and financial controller for a Burlington electrical company at the time of the election. His major campaign planks focused on supporting the Red Hill Creek Expressway, keeping the newly amalgamated suburban communities united with Greater Hamilton and slowing urban sprawl by supporting industrial brownfield development. Peters also lamented the flight of university educated residents from the city, and was quoted as saying, "Of my group of high school friends who went off to university, not one of them lives here, other than me."
Tom Murray was a 50-year-old electrician at Dofasco and former four-term councillor for Ward 8. During his tenure on council, his aggressive style proved controversial, but he maintained that this would be a strong quality for Hamilton's Mayor to have. His platform included no-tax increases, revitalization of the waterfront, support for the completion of the Red Hill Creek Expressway and ensuring the city focuses on providing essential services while selling off assets like golf courses and entertainment facilities.
Michael Baldasaro was a perennial candidate and the Leader of the Church of the Universe. He stood for Parliament in 1984 and 2000 on a number of different party tickets. In 2003, Baldasaro ran on a platform of monetary rewards for voting, removing City Hall security and legalizing marijuana, prostitution and nudity.
Matt Jelly was born in Hamilton, and was a 21-year-old visual artist at the time of the election. He did not enter the election to win votes, but to gain experience and draw attention to certain issues. He wanted to give a final decision on amalgamation more time and opposed the Red Hill Creek Expressway, citing the plan's environmental drawbacks, all while humorously ending his campaign speeches with the line, "Don't vote for me, thank you and good night".
The race for Ward One councillor was marked by nine-year incumbent councillor Marvin Caplan's faltering support because of two major issues. Prior to the election, Caplan found himself embroiled in a sexual harassment case and, during the campaign, openly supported the completion of the Red Hill Creek Expressway, opposed by a majority of Ward One's residents.
Challenger Brian McHattie, who had run for Mayor in 1997, was a 43-year-old environmental consultant at the time of the election, and received support due to his opposition to the Red Hill Creek Expressway. Michael Puskas, the third candidate in the race, was a local lawyer who echoed Caplan's support for the Expressway.
