Gordon Wright (politician)

Gordon Samuel Dales Wright (June 28, 1927 – October 18, 1990) was a lawyer who served as a Crown Prosecutor for the Attorney General's office, and a politician who served in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1986 until his death in 1990. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Wright was raised in England and came to Edmonton in 1953.[1]

Gordon Samuel Dales Wright
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
In office
May 8, 1986 – October 18, 1990
Preceded byJulian Koziak
Succeeded byBarrie Chivers
ConstituencyEdmonton-Strathcona
Personal details
Born(1927-06-28)June 28, 1927
Kingston, Jamaica
DiedOctober 18, 1990(1990-10-18) (aged 63)
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Political partyAlberta NDP
Residence(s)Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Occupationlawyer, politician

Political career

Wright joined the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation party in the 1950s.[2] He first ran for the Alberta legislature in the 1967 general election in the electoral district of Edmonton North; he lost to incumbent Social Credit MLA Ethel Wilson.[3]

In 1968 he ran for the leadership of the Alberta NDP and lost to Grant Notley by 27 votes. He then became President of the party, and later held numerous other positions on the party's executive.[2]

In the 1971 general election, Wright ran in the electoral district of Edmonton-Belmont. He lost to Progressive Conservative candidate Bert Hohol.[4]

In the 1975 general election, Wright ran in Edmonton-Strathcona and finished a strong second to incumbent Julian Koziak.[5] He ran against Koziak again in the 1979 general election; he doubled his popular vote since the last election but was unable to defeat him.[6] He ran against Koziak for a third time in the 1982 general election and finished 500 votes behind him in the closest election he'd fought yet.[7]

In the 1986 general election Wright defeated Koziak and became an MLA on his sixth attempt at office.[8] He was re-elected in the 1989 general election.[9]

He died of pancreatic cancer on October 18, 1990, while still in office.[2]

References
  1. MLA Gordon Wright dies: tributes pour in: [FINAL Edition] RICHARD HELM Journal Staff Writer. Edmonton Journal; Edmonton, Alta. [Edmonton, Alta]19 Oct 1990: B1.
  2. https://www.assembly.ab.ca/isys/LADDAR_files/docs/hansards/han/legislature_22/session_2/19901126_1430_01_han.pdf (PDF). Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Legislative Assembly of Alberta. November 26, 1990. p. 2413. {{cite book}}: |chapter-url= missing title (help)
  3. "Edmonton North results 1967". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  4. "Edmonton-Belmont results 1971". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  5. "Edmonton-Strathcona results 1975". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  6. "Edmonton-Strathcona results 1979". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  7. "Edmonton-Strathcona results 1982". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  8. "Edmonton-Strathcona results 1986". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  9. "Edmonton-Strathcona results 1989". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
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