Our weekly Timmins history feature continues on the theme of mayors of the past.
This week, the Timmins Museum’s Karen Bachmann zeroes in on probably the most colourful of that group.
Leo Del Villano was first elected as a councillor in 1946, at the age of 33.
“He was the first person actually to serve on a Timmins city council who was born in the community, which is kind of cool.” Bachmann notes.
Del Villano was the last mayor of the Town of Timmins, and first mayor of the new city, following amalgamation in 1972.
Bachmann says he had a great sense or humour, as reflected in some of his campaign slogans.
“He lost a tooth and he lost a toe to a lawn moving accident, so his 1972 campaign slogan was ‘minus a tooth, minus a toe, it’s still Leo Del Villano.”
The slogan was all over town, including the side of Rolly Richer’s truck.
Next week: Why Leo and his wife dined with Queen Elizabeth II.