Al Golden (politician)
Encyclopedia
Allan Golden is a politician and businessman in Winnipeg, Manitoba
.
Golden is involved in many business operations, including the St. Vital Hotel and the Transcona Country Club. He entered politics after being encouraged by former Mayor of Winnipeg Stephen Juba
, to run in the 1980 mayoral election. While Golden is not an ally of Winnipeg's traditional conservative leadership, he has nonetheless been described as a populist right-winger. He has been equally notorious for his political achievements and business ventures as his personal scandals.
, the candidate of the right-leaning Independent Citizens' Election Committee with 25.74% of the votes. Golden would remain a strong opponent of the ICEC throughout his career. Golden considered running against Norrie once again in 1986, but declined. Norrie was again elected mayor in 1986 with over 75% of the votes. It was not until 1988 that Golden ran for office again, this time being elected as a city councillor in the district of St. Vital. Golden was re-elected three times, serving on Council until 2000.
scandal of 2000, Golden ran as a candidate to replace himself in the succeeding by-election, but lost.
In 2002, he opted to run for Mayor after Garth Steek
pulled out of the race, in an attempt to challenge wildly popular incumbent Glen Murray. Golden lost the race to Murray, finishing second with 37.56% of the votes.
Golden made a third attempt at running for Mayor of Winnipeg in 2004, following Murray's resignation. He placed third, with only 14.84% of the votes, his lowest vote percentage to date.
Since 2000, Golden has not held political office.
Prior to the provincial election of 2003 in Manitoba, the Winnipeg Free Press
reported that Golden had met with Stuart Murray
, leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
, regarding the possibility of one of Golden’s sons being a candidate for the party.
Golden was a founding member of the Old Market Square restoration, and runs a transportation service for seniors.
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
.
Golden is involved in many business operations, including the St. Vital Hotel and the Transcona Country Club. He entered politics after being encouraged by former Mayor of Winnipeg Stephen Juba
Stephen Juba
Stephen Juba, OC was a Canadian politician. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1953 to 1959, and served as the 37th Mayor of Winnipeg from 1957 to 1977. He was the first Ukrainian Canadian to hold high political office in the city.Juba left school at age fifteen, when...
, to run in the 1980 mayoral election. While Golden is not an ally of Winnipeg's traditional conservative leadership, he has nonetheless been described as a populist right-winger. He has been equally notorious for his political achievements and business ventures as his personal scandals.
Career in politics
Golden entered into Winnipeg politics to run in the 1980 Winnipeg mayoral election, which he lost to Bill NorrieBill Norrie
William Norrie, CM, OM, QC was the 39th Mayor of Winnipeg, Manitoba and is the former Chancellor of the University of Manitoba....
, the candidate of the right-leaning Independent Citizens' Election Committee with 25.74% of the votes. Golden would remain a strong opponent of the ICEC throughout his career. Golden considered running against Norrie once again in 1986, but declined. Norrie was again elected mayor in 1986 with over 75% of the votes. It was not until 1988 that Golden ran for office again, this time being elected as a city councillor in the district of St. Vital. Golden was re-elected three times, serving on Council until 2000.
Scandal
In April 2000, Golden was found guilty of filing a false statement on a 1989 tax return and failing to declare $727,000 in income. He was convicted of tax fraud and was forced to resign his seat on city council. He ran as a candidate to replace himself in the succeeding by-election, but lost.Return to politics
Following the tax evasionTax evasion
Tax evasion is the general term for efforts by individuals, corporations, trusts and other entities to evade taxes by illegal means. Tax evasion usually entails taxpayers deliberately misrepresenting or concealing the true state of their affairs to the tax authorities to reduce their tax liability,...
scandal of 2000, Golden ran as a candidate to replace himself in the succeeding by-election, but lost.
In 2002, he opted to run for Mayor after Garth Steek
Garth Steek
Garth Steek is a politician, lawyer, and businessman in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He was elected to the Winnipeg City Council in 1995 and served on that body until 2004.-Background:...
pulled out of the race, in an attempt to challenge wildly popular incumbent Glen Murray. Golden lost the race to Murray, finishing second with 37.56% of the votes.
Golden made a third attempt at running for Mayor of Winnipeg in 2004, following Murray's resignation. He placed third, with only 14.84% of the votes, his lowest vote percentage to date.
Since 2000, Golden has not held political office.
Prior to the provincial election of 2003 in Manitoba, the Winnipeg Free Press
Winnipeg Free Press
The Winnipeg Free Press is a daily broadsheet newspaper in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Founded in 1872, as the Manitoba Free Press, it is the oldest newspaper in western Canada. It is the newspaper with the largest readership in the province....
reported that Golden had met with Stuart Murray
Stuart Murray
Stuart Murray is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba and leader of the opposition in the Manitoba legislature from 2000 to 2006.-Early life and career:...
, leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba is the only right wing political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is also the official opposition party in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.-Origins and early years:...
, regarding the possibility of one of Golden’s sons being a candidate for the party.
Golden was a founding member of the Old Market Square restoration, and runs a transportation service for seniors.