Ross Lipsett
Ross Lipsett(1911 - January 15, 1995) was a municipal politician in Toronto in the 1950s. A lifelong resident ofThe Beaches,[1]he served first as an alderman for Ward 8 (representingThe Beaches), onToronto City Council,and then on theToronto Board of Controlin 1954, when he was appointed by council to fill a vacancy on the board. However, when he ran in the December1954 Toronto municipal electionto retain his seat, he was defeated. Lipsett was first elected to city council in theJanuary 1950 Toronto municipal electionrepresenting Ward 8, and was re-elected inDecember 1950 Toronto municipal electionand again in1951 Toronto municipal electionin the1952 Toronto municipal electionand1953 Toronto municipal election.In every election, Lipsett was elected senior alderman from his ward (each ward elected two aldermen). Consequently, as senior alderman for his ward, he was also a founding member ofMetropolitan Toronto Councilwhen Metropolitan Toronto was created in April 1953.
On July 7, 1954, he was appointed to the Board of Control, Toronto municipal government's executive body, to fill a vacancy created by MayorAllan Lamport's resignation and ControllerLeslie Saunders's appointment as interim mayor. In council's vote on filling the vacancy, Lipsett defeated aldermanAllan Grossmanand former aldermanJoseph Cornishon the first ballot.[2]The appointment was controversial as Cornish had finished in fifth place in the previous municipal election, narrowly missing winning a seat on the four-member board by 4,600 votes in the city-wide election. In the December1954 Toronto municipal election,Cornish again ran for the board and succeeded in winning the fourth position, beating Lipsett by 10,000 votes.[3]As an alderman and controller, Lipsett favoured increased social assistance to the elderly and the construction of emergency housing as well as the construction of theDon Valley Parkwayand the proposedScarborough Expresswayand also advocated the conversion of theToronto Islandsto parkland, opposing proposals to build a bridge or tunnel connecting the islands to the mainland.[4][5][6]
Outside of politics, Lipsett owned Ross Lipsett Tires and Automotive Supplies Wholesalers inLeaside.[4]
References[change|change source]
- ↑Toronto Star (1971-2009); Toronto, Ontario [Toronto, Ontario]. 17 Jan 1995: E8.
- ↑Lipsett Named Controller: City Council Shuffle Completed The Globe and Mail (1936-); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]. 08 July 1954: 1.
- ↑Metropolitan Toronto: Timid Fight for Appointment, Westall, Stanley. The Globe and Mail (1936-); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]. 11 Jan 1960: 7.
- ↑4.04.1Nine in Race for Four Board of Control Seats This Year, The Globe and Mail (1936-); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]. 03 Dec 1954: 4.
- ↑Asks New Rent Controls, The Globe and Mail (1936-); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]. 02 Dec 1954: 5.
- ↑Lipsett vs. Gardiner: East End Expressway Outlet Sparks Metro Political Fight Trace Change In Orders To leMay French, William.The Globe and Mail (1936-); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]. 12 May 1954: 1