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 | |
|---|---|
 Halmrast in 1962 | |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta | |
| In office August 6, 1945 – June 17, 1963 | |
| Preceded by | Solon Low |
| Constituency | Warner |
| In office June 17, 1963 – May 23, 1967 | |
| Succeeded by | Douglas Miller |
| Constituency | Taber-Warner |
| Minister of Public Welfare | |
| In office 1953 – January 5, 1954 | |
| Premier | Ernest Manning |
| Preceded by | Wallace Cross |
| Succeeded by | Robin Jorgenson |
| In office October 15, 1962 – June 29, 1967 | |
| Premier | Ernest Manning |
| Preceded by | Robin Jorgenson |
| Succeeded by | Alfred Hooke |
| Minister of Agriculture | |
| In office January 5, 1954 – October 15, 1962 | |
| Premier | Ernest Manning |
| Preceded by | David Ure |
| Succeeded by | Harry Strom |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 10, 1899 La Crosse, Wisconsin |
| Died | February 7, 1979 (aged 79) |
| Political party | Social Credit |
Political career
editHalmrast 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
edit- ^ "By-elections 1905-1973". Elections Alberta. Archived from the original on June 7, 2009. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- ^ "Warner results 1948". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- ^ "Warner results 1952". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- ^ "Warner results 1955". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- ^ "Warner results 1959". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- ^ "Warner results 1963". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Archived from the original on June 12, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.