By Dan McCaffery for the Sarnia Observer
He was a politician who hated politics.
William J. Proctor, who served three terms as Sarnia’s Mayor, was a man who never campaigned for the job. He wouldn’t give speeches, kiss babies, distribute pamphlets or do advertising of any kind.
According to a contemporary newspaper report, Mayor Proctor simply had no enthusiasm for political campaigns.
“At no time during his career did Mr. Proctor solicit votes or indulge in any publicity common to politicians, but merely accepted the nominations and allowed the electors to do the rest”, The Observer reported in 1918.
Amazingly, he somehow managed to win three of four elections, serving as the Community’s 21st Mayor in 1894 and 1895 and as its 37th Chief Magistrate in 1917.
His refusal to mount any kind of campaign finally caught up with him at the end of his third term when he was defeated at the polls.
During his time at the helm he was noted for keeping taxes down and for heading the
Council that installed a new sewer on Lochiel Street.
The achievements sound modest enough but, after his ouster, The Observer printed a glowing tribute. “During his tenure he has exercised sound judgement upon all matters with which he has had to deal”, the paper said. “Efficient economy was a watchword with him during the year 1917 and the Councillors looked to him as a guiding hand in times of strife”.
He was, the newspaper added, an honest and hard working Mayor.
Born in Froomfield, he lived in Corunna before moving to Sarnia to establish a dry goods business.
In addition to his work as Mayor, he served nine years as Chair of the Board of Works and a number of years on Council’s Finance Committee.