Mike Dietsch

Michael Murray Dietsch (February 2, 1942 – March 9, 2014) was a politician in Ontario, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as a Liberal from 1987 to 1990. He also served as mayor of Niagara-on-the-Lake from 1991 to 1997.

Mike Dietsch
Lord Mayor of Niagara-on-the-Lake
In office
1991–1997
Preceded byStan Ignatczyk
Succeeded byArt Viola
Ontario MPP
In office
1987–1990
Preceded byPeter Partington
Succeeded byChristel Haeck
ConstituencySt. Catharines—Brock
Personal details
Born(1942-02-02)February 2, 1942
Toronto, Ontario
DiedMarch 9, 2014(2014-03-09) (aged 72)
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Political partyLiberal
Spouse(s)Gail Dietsch
Children6
OccupationFarmer

Background

Dietsch was educated at Niagara District secondary school, and was a small farm operator and automotive worker in private life.[1] He served as an alderman in Niagara-on-the-Lake from 1974 to 1982 and 1985 to 1987, and was a Regional Councillor from 1982 to 1987 and Deputy Lord Mayor from 1985 to 1987. He was also president of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Jaycees. He lived in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario with his wife Gail. Together they raised six children.[1]

Politics

He was elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1987 provincial election, defeating incumbent Progressive Conservative Peter Partington by 2001 votes in the constituency of St. Catharines—Brock.[2] For the next three years, he served as a backbench supporter of David Peterson's government. During his tenure he sponsored and successfully passed three private member's bills - the allowance of credit card sales at wineries, the allowance of Sunday openings at wineries and an irrigation bill to allow farmers to use irrigation ditches to water their crops.[3]

The Liberals were defeated by the Ontario New Democratic Party in the 1990 provincial election and Dietsch lost his seat to Christel Haeck of the NDP by 1,159 votes.[4]

Dietsch returned to municipal politics in 1991 when he was elected Lord Mayor of Niagara-on-the-Lake. He was re-elected in 1994. He was elected as a Regional Councillor for Niagara-on-the-Lake in 1997.[1] Later that year, he sought the Chairmanship of the Niagara Regional Municipality, but lost to Grimsby Regional Councillor Debbie Zimmerman. He did not seek re-election in 2000.

Later life

He ran a bed and breakfast inn in the town until 2007 when he retired. He died in 2014 after a long battle with cancer.[1]

References
  1. "The community will miss him dearly". Town Crier. Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. March 12, 2014.
  2. "Results from individual ridings". The Windsor Star. September 11, 1987. p. F2.
  3. "Mike Dietsch was a true leader". Town Crier. Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. March 20, 2014.
  4. "Ontario election: Riding-by-riding voting results". The Globe and Mail. September 7, 1990. p. A12.
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