Preceded by Wayne Connors Name Russell MacNeil Residence Dartmouth, Nova Scotia | Political party Liberal Succeeded by Frank Corbett | |
Born February 24, 1931 (age 93)
New Waterford, Nova Scotia ( 1931-02-24 ) | ||
Russell Francis MacNeil (born February 24, 1931) is a Canadian politician. He represented the electoral district of Cape Breton Centre in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1989 to 1998. He was a member of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party.
MacNeil was born in 1931 at New Waterford, Nova Scotia. He graduated from St. Francis Xavier University with an arts degree in 1953, and an education degree in 1954. MacNeil entered provincial politics in 1989, running as the Liberal candidate in a Cape Breton Centre by-election. Defeated by seven votes on election night, the number was reduced to two when official results were announced. However, a judicial recount in September ended with MacNeil being declared the winner by three votes. His Progressive Conservative opponent appealed to the Nova Scotia Supreme Court, and in February 1990, the by-election was declared invalid and MacNeil's victory voided. A second by-election was held on August 28, 1990, with MacNeil winning the seat. He was re-elected in the 1993 election, and served as a backbench member of John Savage's government. MacNeil did not seek re-election in 1998.