Charles Joseph Canfield (March 24, 1932 – January 24, 2017) was a Veteran of the United States Navy and an American businessman. He was a mayor of

Rochester, Minnesota Rochester is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and the county seat of Olmsted County. Located on rolling bluffs on the Zumbro River's south fork in Southeast Minnesota, the city is the home and birthplace of the renowned Mayo Clinic. Acco ...

. Before being elected mayor in 1995, he was the member of the Rochester City Council for the 2nd Ward for a span which began in 1986. He owned a

Shakey's Pizza Shakey's Pizza is a pizza restaurant chain based in the United States. Founded in 1954, it was the first franchise pizza chain in the United States. In 1968, the chain had 342 locations. The chain had about 500 stores globally, and 58 in the Uni ...

restaurant in northwest Rochester along

US Route 52 U.S. Route 52 (US 52) is a major United States highway in the central United States that extends from the northern to southeastern region of the United States. Contrary to most other even-numbered U.S. Highways, US 52 primarily follows ...

since 1967 until its closure in the 2002. He lost the 2002 mayoral election to

Ardell Brede Ardell F. Brede (born June 23, 1939) is an American politician who served as mayor of Rochester, Minnesota. Born in Austin, Minnesota, Brede has lived in Rochester for 43 years. Brede was the mayor of Rochester from January 6, 2003 until Januar ...

1995 Election

Then Rochester Mayor, Chuck Hazama had been scandalized by the

NAACP The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is a civil rights organization in the United States, formed in 1909 as an interracial endeavor to advance justice for African Americans by a group including W. E.&nb ...

for responding to racism claims by saying that the accusers were newcomers from "East St. Louis and Chicago." Canfield started/announced his campaign for mayor June 6, 1995. His platform was largely based on the rising crime in Rochester. Olmsted County Commissioner Carol Kamper was the primary opponent when Canfield announced his campaign. Canfield said, "There is a criminal element floating into town that puts our neighborhoods in fear and danger.". Three days later, Ken R. Weber, the operation manager for the Kahler Hotel's concession business, announced that he would run against Canfield, but a month later he learned because of his probation for committing felony theft he had lost the right to run for mayor. Weber's platform revolved around banning smoking in all indoor, public places. Critical situations manager at IBM Steve Beilby filed to run July 7, making the total candidates a necessary three to demand a primary in September. Beilby had previously lost the 1993 bid for Rochester mayor in the primaries. Before the primaries retired IBM employee, John Reidenbach, also announced his campaign. Canfield won the primaries with 46% of nearly 8,500 votes. Kamper joined him in continuing the general elections by achieving 32%. Reidenbach lost with 18%, and Beilby only won 4%. There were 44,000 eligible voters: 19% turnout. A debate was held between Kamper and Canfield at

Rochester Community College Rochester may refer to: Places Australia * Rochester, Victoria Canada * Rochester, Alberta United Kingdom *Rochester, Kent ** City of Rochester-upon-Medway (1982–1998), district council area **History of Rochester, Kent ** HM Prison R ...

, though it was delayed until after the O. J. Simpson verdict announcement. At the debate, Kamper said Rochester did need a youth nightclub or youth center, but that it shouldn't be paid for with city money. Canfield responded by saying that jobs were more important than nightclubs. Both candidates reporting spending thousands of dollars each on their campaigns. Canfield spent almost $10,000, while Kamper spent over $7,500. With general election voter turnout at only 29% on November 7, Canfield beat Kamper with a "significant margin" ending the 16-year Hazama Administration. Canfield's mayoral victory left his councilman seat open, so according to the city charter the city council could appoint a replacement. Canfield left no comment on who that person ought to be. He died on January 24, 2017, at the age of 84.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Canfield, Chuck 1932 births 2017 deaths 20th-century mayors of places in Minnesota Businesspeople from Minnesota Minnesota Independents Minnesota city council members Mayors of Rochester, Minnesota 20th-century American businesspeople

1995 Election

See also

References