Dick Mather
Encyclopedia
Richard "Dick" Mather was a municipal politician from Alberta
, Canada
. He served as a member of Edmonton
city council from 1995 until his death in 1997. He also served as a public school trustee from 1983 to 1995.
, Alberta
, Canada
on July 20, 1941. He married Weslyn Mather
in 1965.
and won the fifth place seat out of 17 candidates in the at large vote. He was re-elected again in 1986, 1989, 1992 before retiring as a School Trustee in 1995.
In 1989 Mather became the first President of the Public School Boards' Association of Alberta
. He served in that role until 1991.
. He ran for provincial office twice under the banner, losing both times.
He first ran for the party as a candidate in a by-election held in Edmonton-Whitemud
on December 11, 1985. Mather finished in third place, losing to Premier Don Getty
, taking just over 8% of the popular vote.
He ran for party a second time in the 1986 Alberta general election
in the electoral district of Edmonton-Mill Woods. He would not do as well as the by-election and finished in fourth place, losing to New Democrat Gerry Gibeault
.
. Mather died from a heart attack while still in his first term on August 13, 1997.
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He served as a member of Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
city council from 1995 until his death in 1997. He also served as a public school trustee from 1983 to 1995.
Early life
Richard Mather was born in EdmontonEdmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
on July 20, 1941. He married Weslyn Mather
Weslyn Mather
Weslyn Mather is a former provincial politician in the Canadian province of Alberta. She served as a member in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 2004 to 2008 sitting with the Liberal caucus in opposition.-Early life:...
in 1965.
School Trustee
Mather ran for a seat as an Edmonton public school trustee in the 1983 Edmonton municipal electionEdmonton municipal election, 1983
The 1983 municipal election was held October 17, 1983 to elect a mayor and twelve aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council in Alberta, Canada, nine trustees to sit on the public school board, and seven trustees to sit on the separate school board.-Voter turnout:...
and won the fifth place seat out of 17 candidates in the at large vote. He was re-elected again in 1986, 1989, 1992 before retiring as a School Trustee in 1995.
In 1989 Mather became the first President of the Public School Boards' Association of Alberta
Public School Boards' Association of Alberta
The Public School Boards' Association of Alberta is a not-for-profit society, the members of which are school jurisdictions in Alberta, Canada...
. He served in that role until 1991.
Provincial politics
Mather was prominently involved in the Representative Party of AlbertaRepresentative Party of Alberta
The Representative Party of Alberta was a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada formed by Raymond Speaker in 1984. The party was right of center, conservative in ideology and considered a modern version of Social Credit without the monetary reforms....
. He ran for provincial office twice under the banner, losing both times.
He first ran for the party as a candidate in a by-election held in Edmonton-Whitemud
Edmonton-Whitemud
Edmonton-Whitemud is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada. In 1989, its constituents unseated the Premier of the day, Donald Getty, by voting for Liberal candidate, Percy Wickman....
on December 11, 1985. Mather finished in third place, losing to Premier Don Getty
Don Getty
Donald Ross Getty, OC, AOE is a retired Canadian politician who served as the 11th Premier of Alberta between 1985 and 1992. A member of the Progressive Conservatives, he served as Energy Minister and Federal and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister in the government of Peter Lougheed before...
, taking just over 8% of the popular vote.
He ran for party a second time in the 1986 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1986
The Alberta general election of 1986 was the twenty-first general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on May 8, 1986 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
in the electoral district of Edmonton-Mill Woods. He would not do as well as the by-election and finished in fourth place, losing to New Democrat Gerry Gibeault
Gerry Gibeault
Gerry Gibeault is a former School Trustee with Edmonton Public Schools and served as the Trusee for Ward I. He previously served as Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1986 to 1993 sitting with the New Democrat caucus in opposition.-Early life:Gibeault graduated post secondary...
.
Alderman
Mather left his position as a school trustee at the end of his term in 1995 to run as an Alderman in Ward 6. He won the second place seat finishing close behind front runner Terry CavanaghTerry Cavanagh
Terence James Cavanagh is a Canadian politician, municipal councillor in Edmonton, Alberta, who served as mayor. He was Edmonton's first native-born mayor.-Early life:...
. Mather died from a heart attack while still in his first term on August 13, 1997.