Leonard Halmrast

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.

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.^[1]

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 way race. Halmrast increased his support from the by-election holding the district easily.^[2]

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.^[3]

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.^[4]

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.^[5]

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.^[6] 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.

References

External links

• Legislative Assembly of Alberta Members Listing