Local governance and the local political career in Canada: A sample dataset

Abstract

This research note introduces and describes a new dataset of political actors from the city of Kitchener, Ontario. The dataset is comprised of 348 complete political careers, across four local institutions, from 1912 to the present. This research note aims to show that large‐scale databases of local political actors can contribute to our understanding of (a) local political careers, (b) the dynamics of formal and informal local institutions, and (c) the nature and boundaries of local multilevel governance. This note concludes with some practical advice for those who wish to build similar datasets in other Canadian cities.

Gender, Race and Political Ambition: The Case of Ontario School Board Elections

“…Research activity in the area of local electoral politics has increased significantly in recent years (Breux et al, 2017; Lucas, 2015; McGregor et al, 2016; Siemiatycki, 2011), with much academic effort focused on the representation of women or racial minorities. This work has broadly concluded that women and/or racial minorities are underrepresented in local government, as they are at other orders of government (Bird, 2015; Bird et al, 2016; Breux et al, 2018; McGregor et al, 2016; Spicer et al, 2017; Tolley, 2011).…”