Barrhead (electoral district)

Barrhead was a provincial electoral district in Alberta mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta using first-past-the-post balloting from 1971 to 1993.[1]

Barrhead
Alberta electoral district
Defunct provincial electoral district
LegislatureLegislative Assembly of Alberta
District created1971
District abolished1993
First contested1971
Last contested1989

History

Boundary history

Barrhead replaced the district of Pembina in the redistribution that took effect in 1971, centred around the town of Barrhead. In 1979 its southern boundary was extended to the north shore of Lac Ste. Anne, and extended further south again in 1986.

In the redistribution that took effect in 1993, the riding was replaced by Barrhead-Westlock and its southern portion was transferred to Whitecourt-Ste. Anne.

Representation history
Members of the Legislative Assembly for Barrhead-Westlock
Assembly Years Member Party
See Pembina 1909–1971
17th 1971–1975 Hugh Horner Progressive
Conservative
18th 1975–1979
19th 1979
1979 Vacant
1979–1982 Ken Kowalski Progressive
Conservative
20th 1982–1986
21st 1986–1989
22nd 1989–1993
See Barrhead-Westlock 1993–2004 and
Whitecourt-Ste. Anne 1993–2019

The first representative for Barrhead was one-term Progressive Conservative MLA for Lac Ste. Anne Hugh Horner, who had captured his seat from the governing Social Credit in 1967. He occupied several posts in Peter Lougheed's cabinet over his career, but retired shortly after winning his fourth term as MLA in 1979.

The resulting by-election was the closest result in the history of the district, with Liberal leader Nick Taylor running for the seat. Progressive Conservative Candidate Ken Kowalski, however, would narrowly retain Barrhead for the government. He also served in cabinet and, when the district was abolished in 1993, went on to serve as MLA for Barrhead-Westlock.

Election results

Elections in the 1970s
1971 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeHugh Horner3,36059.43%–
Social CreditSimon Tuininga1,65129.20%–
New DemocraticHerman Burke64311.37%–
Total 5,654––
Rejected, spoiled and declined 19––
Eligible electors / turnout 7,89471.86%–
Progressive Conservative pickup new district.
Source(s)
Source: "Barrhead Official Results 1971 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
1975 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeHugh Horner3,66567.74%8.32%
Social CreditBill Seatter91916.99%-12.21%
New DemocraticArlington Corbett82615.27%3.90%
Total 5,410––
Rejected, spoiled and declined 21––
Eligible electors / turnout 8,19066.31%–
Progressive Conservative hold Swing 10.27%
Source(s)
Source: "Barrhead Official Results 1975 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
1979 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeHugh Horner4,62962.29%-5.45%
Social CreditDavid Bouyea1,65822.31%5.32%
New DemocraticLionel Udenberg1,00813.56%-1.70%
LiberalJohn V. Murphy1361.83%–
Total 7,431––
Rejected, spoiled and declined N/A––
Eligible electors / turnout 10,87168.36%–
Progressive Conservative hold Swing -5.39%
Source(s)
Source: "Barrhead Official Results 1979 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
Alberta provincial by-election, November 21, 1979
Following the resignation of Dr. Hugh Horner on October 1, 1979
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeKen Kowalski2,45738.74-23.55
LiberalNicholas Taylor2,10233.14+31.31
Social CreditDavid Bouyea1,06716.82-5.49
New DemocraticArlington Corbett71611.29-2.27
Total valid votes 6,342 ––
Rejected, spoiled, and declined –––
Eligible voters / turnout 11409 55.59 -13.39
Progressive Conservative hold Swing -27.43
Source(s)
Elections Alberta. "By-elections". Retrieved 2018-01-22.

Elections in the 1980s
1982 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeKen Kowalski5,00151.44%-10.85%
LiberalNicholas Taylor3,33134.26%32.43%
Western Canada ConceptJohn Thomas Mitchell6336.51%–
New DemocraticHarold Wharton4784.92%-8.65%
Social CreditShirley Bassani2402.47%-19.84%
ReformErnie Charman390.40%–
Total 9,722––
Rejected, Spoiled and Declined 13––
Eligible electors / Turnout 12,22679.63%–
Progressive Conservative hold Swing -11.40%
Source(s)
Source: "Barrhead Official Results 1982 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
1986 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeKen Kowalski5,09257.82%6.38%
New DemocraticLarry E. McConnell2,30326.15%21.24%
LiberalMary Lou Ehrenholz6377.23%-27.03%
IndependentHerb Brent5396.12%–
RepresentativeFerne Nutt2352.67%–
Total 8,806––
Rejected, Spoiled and Declined 13––
Eligible electors / Turnout 14,49160.86%–
Progressive Conservative hold Swing 7.25%
Source(s)
Source: "Barrhead Official Results 1986 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
1989 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeKen Kowalski5,29457.51%6.07%
New DemocraticHarold Wharton1,67318.17%13.26%
LiberalDave Perrin1,66018.03%-16.23%
Social CreditJ. Harvey Yuill5786.28%3.81%
Total 9,205––
Rejected, Spoiled and Declined 16––
Eligible electors / Turnout 14,42663.92%–
Progressive Conservative hold Swing 3.83%
Source(s)
Source: "Barrhead Official Results 1989 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

Also see

References
  1. "Election results for Barrhead". abheritage.ca. Heritage Community Foundation. Archived from the original on 8 December 2010. Retrieved 22 May 2020.

Further reading
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