Leonard Halmrast
Encyclopedia
Leonard Christian Halmrast (October 10, 1899 – February 7, 1979) was a provincial politician from Alberta
, Canada
. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
from 1945 to 1967 sitting with the Social Credit caucus in government. During his time in office he served as a member of the Executive Council of Alberta
holding various cabinet portfolios in the government of Ernest Manning
from 1953 to 1967.
Less than three years later Halmrast ran for a second term in office in the 1948 Alberta general election
. He faced Liberal candidate William Colliton in a two race race. Halmrast increased his support from the by-election holding the district easily.
Halmrast ran for a third term in office in the 1952 Alberta general election
. He faced Liberal candidate George Snow in his third two way race in a row. Halmrast defeated Snow with another landslide victory while increasing his popular vote from his 1952 total.
Premier Ernest Manning appointed Halmrast to his cabinet in 1953. He was given the Public Welfare portfolio briefly holding that until January 5, 1954 when he was shuffled to the Agriculture portfolio. Halmrast stood for his fourth term in office with ministerial advantage in the 1955 Alberta general election
.
The election in 1955 was a hotly contested two way race between Halmrast and Liberal candidate J.L. Evans. Halmrast held his popular vote from the 1952 election, while Evans nearly doubled the Liberal vote strongly challenging Halmrast for his seat but was not enough to defeat him.
Halmrast ran for a fifth term in the 1959 Alberta general election
. He would face his fifth two way race in a row easily defeating Liberal candidate Mark Stringam. Halmrast saw his popular vote see a significant rise from the 1955 election, while Stringam was unable hold the Liberals 1955 vote and lost a small portion.
Manning shuffled Halmrast back to the Public Welfare portfolio for the second time on October 15, 1962. The 1963 boundary redistribution saw the electoral district of Warner merged with Taber to become Taber-Warner. Halmrast ran for his sixth term in office in the election held that year
.
The election in Taber-Warner was not contested at all. Halmrast was returned to office by acclamation. He was the last candidate to date to win office this way in Alberta provincial history.
Halmrast retired from provincial office at dissolution of the assembly in 1967.
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 the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
Legislative Assembly of Alberta
The Legislative Assembly of Alberta is one of two components of the Legislature of Alberta, the other being the Queen, represented by the Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta. The Alberta legislature meets in the Alberta Legislature Building in the provincial capital, Edmonton...
from 1945 to 1967 sitting with the Social Credit caucus in government. During his time in office he served as a member of the Executive Council of Alberta
Executive Council of Alberta
The Executive Council of Alberta is the cabinet of that Canadian province.Almost always made up of members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, the Cabinet is similar in structure and role to the Cabinet of Canada while being smaller in size...
holding various cabinet portfolios in the government of Ernest Manning
Ernest Manning
Ernest Charles Manning, , a Canadian politician, was the eighth Premier of Alberta between 1943 and 1968 for the Social Credit Party of Alberta. He served longer than any premier in the province's history, and was the second longest serving provincial premier in Canadian history...
from 1953 to 1967.
Political career
Halmrast ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature as a Social Credit candidate in a by-election held in the electoral district of Warner in a by-election held on August 6, 1945. He faced H.J. Hierath who ran as a Single Tax candidate in a two race. The race was not close with Halmrast defeating Hierath with a landslide majority to hold the seat for his party.Less than three years later Halmrast ran for a second term in office in the 1948 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1948
The Alberta general election of 1948 was the eleventh general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on August 17, 1948 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. He faced Liberal candidate William Colliton in a two race race. Halmrast increased his support from the by-election holding the district easily.
Halmrast ran for a third term in office in the 1952 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1952
The Alberta general election of 1952 was the twelfth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on August 5, 1952 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.Ernest C...
. He faced Liberal candidate George Snow in his third two way race in a row. Halmrast defeated Snow with another landslide victory while increasing his popular vote from his 1952 total.
Premier Ernest Manning appointed Halmrast to his cabinet in 1953. He was given the Public Welfare portfolio briefly holding that until January 5, 1954 when he was shuffled to the Agriculture portfolio. Halmrast stood for his fourth term in office with ministerial advantage in the 1955 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1955
The Alberta general election of 1955 was the thirteenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 29, 1955 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
.
The election in 1955 was a hotly contested two way race between Halmrast and Liberal candidate J.L. Evans. Halmrast held his popular vote from the 1952 election, while Evans nearly doubled the Liberal vote strongly challenging Halmrast for his seat but was not enough to defeat him.
Halmrast ran for a fifth term in the 1959 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1959
The Alberta general election of 1959 was the fourteenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 18, 1959 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.Ernest C...
. He would face his fifth two way race in a row easily defeating Liberal candidate Mark Stringam. Halmrast saw his popular vote see a significant rise from the 1955 election, while Stringam was unable hold the Liberals 1955 vote and lost a small portion.
Manning shuffled Halmrast back to the Public Welfare portfolio for the second time on October 15, 1962. The 1963 boundary redistribution saw the electoral district of Warner merged with Taber to become Taber-Warner. Halmrast ran for his sixth term in office in the election held that year
Alberta general election, 1963
The Alberta general election of 1963 was the fifteenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 17, 1963 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.The Social Credit Party, led by Ernest C...
.
The election in Taber-Warner was not contested at all. Halmrast was returned to office by acclamation. He was the last candidate to date to win office this way in Alberta provincial history.
Halmrast retired from provincial office at dissolution of the assembly in 1967.