The New Democratic Party of Manitoba (NDP) fielded a full slate of 57 candidates in the 1969 provincial election, and won 28 seats to emerge as the largest party in the provincial legislature. After a brief period of political uncertainty, the party was able to form a minority government.
Many of the party's candidates have their own biography pages; information about others may be found here. This page also includes information about New Democratic Party candidates in by-elections between 1969 and 1971.
Candidates
editBirtle-Russell: Donald Kostesky
editDonald Kostesky was 22 years old in 1969, and was a farmer in Rossburn. He joined the New Democratic Party in 1964, and first ran for the party in a February 1969 by-election.[1] He finished a close second in the general election, despite the fact that his party did not have strong historical roots in the Birtle-Russell division. His brother, Ronald Kostesky, was a New Democratic Party candidate in the 1966 provincial election.
Kostesky was listed as the CEO and general-manager of Farmers Co-op Seed Plant Ltd. in 1994.[2] He is now retired from farming,[3] but remains CEO of the seed co-operative, which has been renamed Red Sper Enterprises Ltd.[4]
| Election | Division | Party | Votes | % | Place | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| provincial by-election, 20 February 1969 | Birtle-Russell | New Democratic Party | 1,034 | 22.69 | 2/3 | Harry Graham, Progressive Conservative |
| 1969 provincial | Birtle-Russell | New Democratic Party | 2,263 | 37.74 | 2/3 | Harry Graham, Progressive Conservative |
William Thomas Loftus (June 21, 1916 – August 6, 2008) was raised and educated in the Norwood area of Winnipeg, and attended the University of Manitoba. He was a farmer in La Salle at the time of the election. He was also an Air Canada captain of long standing, having joined the service in 1944. In religion, he was a member of the United Church of Canada.[5]
Loftus ran as a New Democratic Party candidate in three provincial elections, in an area where the party did not have a strong organizational base.[6] He later worked for the government, after the NDP won election under Edward Schreyer's leadership.[7]
| Election | Division | Party | Votes | % | Place | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 provincial | Morris | New Democratic Party | 370 | 11.65 | 3/3 | Harry Shewman, Progressive Conservative |
| provincial by-election, 20 February 1969 | Morris | New Democratic Party | 276 | 8.46 | 3/3 | Warner Jorgenson, Progressive Conservative |
| 1969 provincial | Morris | New Democratic Party | 712 | 15.48 | 3/4 | Warner Jorgenson, Progressive Conservative |
References
edit- ^ "13 candidates seek seats", Winnipeg Free Press, 15 February 1969, p. 12. This article indicates that Kostesky was a high school graduate.
- ^ Ritchie Gage, "Seeds of profit: The business of pedigree grain seeds", Manitoba Business, 1 November 1994, p. 8.
- ^ Unreserved Retirement Farm Auction for Don Kostesky, OK Auctions, 2006, accessed 1 October 2009.
- ^ Red Sper Enterprises Ltd., Companylisting.ca, accessed 1 October 2009.
- ^ "NDP candidate", Winnipeg Free Press, 16 January 1969, p. 52; "13 Candidates seek seats", Winnipeg Free Press, 15 February 1969, p. 12.
- ^ Loftus won the NDP nomination without opposition for the 1969 by-election. See Winnipeg Free Press, 16 January 1969, p. 52.
- ^ Bill Loftus, obituary notice, Winnipeg Free Press, 9 August 2008, accessed 19 October 2009.