Leonard Halmrast

Leonard Christian Halmrast (October 10, 1899 – February 7, 1979) was a politician from Alberta, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1945 to 1967 as a member of the Social Credit caucus in government. He held various portfolios in the cabinet of Premier Ernest Manning from 1953 to 1967.

Leonard Christian Halmrast
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
In office
August 6, 1945 – June 17, 1963
Preceded bySolon Low
ConstituencyWarner
In office
June 17, 1963 – May 23, 1967
Succeeded byDouglas Miller
ConstituencyTaber-Warner
Minister of Public Welfare
In office
1953 – January 5, 1954
PremierErnest Manning
Preceded byWallace Cross
Succeeded byRobin Jorgenson
In office
October 15, 1962 – June 29, 1967
PremierErnest Manning
Preceded byRobin Jorgenson
Succeeded byAlfred Hooke
Minister of Agriculture
In office
January 5, 1954 – October 15, 1962
PremierErnest Manning
Preceded byDavid Ure
Succeeded byHarry Strom
Personal details
Born(1899-10-10)October 10, 1899
La Crosse, Wisconsin
DiedFebruary 7, 1979(1979-02-07) (aged 79)
Political partySocial Credit

Political career

Halmrast first ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature as a Social Credit candidate in a by-election held in the electoral district of Warner on August 6, 1945. He defeated H.J. Hierath, who ran as a Single Tax candidate, in a landslide to hold the seat for his party.[1]

In the 1948 general election Halmrast defeated Liberal candidate William Colliton in a two-way race.[2]

In the 1952 general election Halmrast defeated Liberal candidate George Snow by a landslide in his third two-way race in a row.[3]

Premier Ernest Manning appointed Halmrast to his cabinet in 1953. Halmrast served as Minister of Public Welfare until January 5, 1954; he was then appointed Minister of Agriculture.

In the 1955 general election Halmrast defeated Liberal candidate J.L. Evans by a smaller margin than in earlier elections.[4]

In the 1959 general election Halmrast defeated Liberal candidate Mark Stringam in his fifth consecutive straight fight.[5]

On October 15, 1962 Premier Manning shuffled Halmrast back to the Public Welfare portfolio.

Redistribution in 1963 saw the electoral district of Warner merged with Taber to become Taber-Warner. In the election held that year Halmrast was returned to office by acclamation.[6] This was the last time that a candidate was elected unopposed to the Alberta legislature.

Halmrast retired from the assembly at dissolution in 1967.

References
  1. "By-elections 1905-1973". Elections Alberta. Archived from the original on June 7, 2009. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
  2. "Warner results 1948". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
  3. "Warner results 1952". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
  4. "Warner results 1955". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
  5. "Warner results 1959". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
  6. "Warner results 1963". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Archived from the original on June 12, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
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