Preceded by Norman Willmore Name William Switzer Residence Hinton, Alberta | Constituency Edson Succeeded by Robert Dowling | |
Died June 30, 1969(1969-06-30) (aged 48) Political party Liberal (provincial)
Liberal (federal) | ||
William Switzer Provincial Park Media
William Alexander Switzer (September 21, 1920 – June 30, 1969) was a provincial politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1965 to 1969 sitting with the Liberal caucus in opposition.
Contents
Political career
Switzer attempted to run for office to the Alberta Legislature in the 1952 Alberta general election as a candidate for the provincial Liberal party in the electoral district of Edson. He was defeated in a closely two way race by Norman Willmore.
Switzer faced Willmore and another candidate for the second time in the 1955 Alberta general election. He would again finish a close second but was not able to win the seat.
Switzer ran for a seat to the House of Commons of Canada in the 1963 Canadian federal election as the Liberal candidate in the Jasper—Edson electoral district. He finished a distant third place losing to incumbent Hugh Horner.
Two years late Switzer attempted another run at the provincial level. He ran as a candidate in a by-election held on March 29, 1965 and the electoral district of Edson to pick the seat up for his party. The race was hotly contested by all four candidates. Switzer edged out Alberta NDP leader Neil Reimer by just over 100 votes to take the seat.
Switzer would run for a second term in office in the 1967 Alberta general election. He would face Reimer for the second election as well as Social Credit candidate Arthur Jorgensen. The three way race was hotly contested. Switzer hung on defeating Jorgensen by over 800 votes while Reimer finished a close third place.
Switzer died from a heart attack while still holding office on June 30, 1969. The provincial government named William A. Switzer Provincial Park in his honour.