Preceded by Arthur Ryan Smith Succeeded by Bill Dickie Succeeded by District abolished Constituency Calgary Glenmore | Constituency Calgary Name Ernest Watkins Preceded by New District | |
Ernest Shilston Watkins (June 18, 1902 – 1982) was a provincial politician and author from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1957 to 1963.
Political career
Watkins was elected in a by-election held in the Calgary provincial electoral district October 2, 1957. He won nearly half the popular vote defeating four other candidates. This was first election held using the first past the post method of voting since 1921.
Watkins was re-elected in the 1959 Alberta general election for the new electoral district of Calgary Glenmore. The race for Calgary Glenmore was tight with Watkins winning by just over 200 votes.
Watkins was the only Progressive Conservative candidate elected in 1959. He became interim leader of his party replacing Cam Kirby. Watkins held the leadership until 1962 when he was replaced by Milt Harradence.