Originally from Lindsay, Dickerson was involved in municipal politics in Lindsay in his early 20s, and was briefly barred from holding office in a conflict of interest charge over his business dealings with the town's hydroelectricity commission.
12 Facts About Merle Dickerson
1.
2.
Merle Dickerson later served in the Canadian Armed Forces during World War II before moving to North Bay, where he worked as a building contractor.
3.
Merle Dickerson ran as a Cooperative Commonwealth Federation candidate in Nipissing in the 1949 federal election, losing to Jack Garland.
4.
Merle Dickerson stepped down from the mayoralty in the 1960 municipal election, but ran for and won reelection as an alderman.
5.
Merle Dickerson ran for mayor again in the 1965 municipal election.
6.
Merle Dickerson lost to Richard Smith by a margin of just 44 votes.
7.
Merle Dickerson ran for mayor again in the 1973 municipal election, defeating Goulet.
8.
In 1975, Merle Dickerson was arrested in a police raid on the Canton Gardens restaurant in North Bay, when he was found playing poker in an illegal gambling room.
9.
Merle Dickerson was found guilty and sentenced to 15 days in jail.
10.
Merle Dickerson ran in the 1977 provincial election, again as a Progressive Conservative in Nipissing, and lost to Mike Bolan.
11.
Merle Dickerson was re-elected, although Deibel petitioned the Ontario Supreme Court for an injunction against Dickerson taking office, which was not granted.
12.
Merle Dickerson remained in office until his death on June 9,1984.