Mike Hurst (politician)
| Mike Hurst | |
|---|---|
| 32nd Mayor of Windsor, Ontario | |
|
In office 1991–2003 |
|
| Preceded by | John Millson |
| Succeeded by | Eddie Francis |
| Personal details | |
| Nationality | Canadian |
Michael D. Hurst (born March 9, 1950) is a municipal politician in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. He served as 32nd Mayor of the city of Windsor from 1991 to 2003, and oversaw several major changes in the city's development.
Hurst was born in Windsor, and holds Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws degrees from the University of Windsor. He practiced law in private life, and unsuccessfully campaigned for the Windsor city council in 1982.
Hurst was elected to the Windsor City Council during a by-election in 1987, and was re-elected the 1988 municipal election. He represented the city's first ward. He was the only member of the Windsor council to vote against a financial bailout for the Windsor Symphony Orchestra in 1988, arguing that the orchestra was making itself financially unviable by spending too much money on new members.
Hurst increased his public profile in early 1991, when he emerged as a prominent opponent of Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's decision to shut down its Windsor-area news department. He was quoted as saying, "We're bombarded by American culture here and the CBC was something that really helped keep us Canadian".
Hurst supported a relaxation of Canada's Sunday shopping laws for communities on the American border, arguing that this step would counter the effects of cross-border shopping on the local economy. He opposed a restrictive shopping law brought forward by the province of Ontario in early 1991.
Hurst was elected Mayor of Windsor in the 1991 municipal election, defeating local magazine publisher Jerry Woloschuk. The incumbent mayor, John Millson, did not seek re-election in order to spend more time with his family. Hurst renewed his opposition to Sunday shopping legislation after the election, and indicated that he might attempt to circumvent the law through legal means. He welcomed a 1992 ruling by the Ontario Municipal Board which allowed Sunday shopping in much of Windsor to promote tourism.
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