Norman E. Cook
Encyclopedia
Norman E. Cook was a provincial level politician from Alberta
, Canada
. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
from 1940 until his death in 1950. He served in the governing Social Credit caucus during his time in the Legislature representing the electoral district of Olds.
. He contested the Olds
provincial electoral district as a Liberal candidate. He was handily defeated finishing a distant second to Incumbent United Farmers of Alberta
MLA Nelson Smith
.
Cook ran for Social Credit nomination for Olds in the 1935 Alberta general election
but lost to Herbert Ash
who would end up becoming the new MLA. Just prior to the 1940 Alberta general election
, Ash was removed from the Social Credit caucus and Cook was picked as the new candidate by the Social Credit Advisory Board.
Ash decided to run anyways under the Independent Social Credit banner. The race was joined by Independent candidate Frank Grisdale
the former Minister of Agriculture whom Ash defeated in 1935. On election night Grisdale was leading Cook by 110 votes on the first count, while Ash was trailing a distant third. Grisdale did not gain a 50% majority, and was defeated by less than 100 votes after Ash second choice preferences were cast.
Cook ran for his second term in office in the 1944 Alberta general election
. Despite running against two other candidates, he swept the district with nearly 67% of the popular vote. Cook continued to gain in popularity, winning a super majority of 74% in his re-election bid for the 1948 Alberta general election
.
Cook died in 1950, causing his district to become vacant.
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
Legislative Assembly of Alberta
The Legislative Assembly of Alberta is one of two components of the Legislature of Alberta, the other being the Queen, represented by the Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta. The Alberta legislature meets in the Alberta Legislature Building in the provincial capital, Edmonton...
from 1940 until his death in 1950. He served in the governing Social Credit caucus during his time in the Legislature representing the electoral district of Olds.
Political career
Cook first ran for a seat in the Alberta Legislature in the 1926 Alberta general electionAlberta general election, 1926
The Alberta general election of 1926 was the sixth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 28, 1926 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. The writs of election were issued on May 10, 1926 allowing for an election period of 40 days.After Herbert...
. He contested the Olds
Olds (provincial electoral district)
Olds was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. The district was mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1909 to 1963. The district was combined with the Didsbury electoral district to form Olds-Didsbury...
provincial electoral district as a Liberal candidate. He was handily defeated finishing a distant second to Incumbent United Farmers of Alberta
United Farmers of Alberta
The United Farmers of Alberta is an association of Alberta farmers that has served many different roles throughout its history as a lobby group, a political party, and as a farm-supply retail chain. Since 1934 it has primarily been an agricultural supply cooperative headquartered in Calgary...
MLA Nelson Smith
Nelson S. Smith
Nelson Stuart Smith was a provincial level politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta representing the Olds electoral district from 1921 to 1930. He sat with the United Farmers of Alberta caucus....
.
Cook ran for Social Credit nomination for Olds in the 1935 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1935
The Alberta general election of 1935 was the eighth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on August 22, 1935 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
but lost to Herbert Ash
Herbert Ash
Herbert Joseph Ash was a provincial level politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1935 to 1940...
who would end up becoming the new MLA. Just prior to the 1940 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1940
The Alberta general election of 1940 was the ninth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada, was held on March 21, 1940 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
, Ash was removed from the Social Credit caucus and Cook was picked as the new candidate by the Social Credit Advisory Board.
Ash decided to run anyways under the Independent Social Credit banner. The race was joined by Independent candidate Frank Grisdale
Frank Grisdale
Frank Sydney Grisdale BSc. CBE was a provincial level politician from Olds, Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1930 to 1935. He sat with the United Farmers caucus and served briefly from 1934 to 1935 as a cabinet minister in the government of Premier...
the former Minister of Agriculture whom Ash defeated in 1935. On election night Grisdale was leading Cook by 110 votes on the first count, while Ash was trailing a distant third. Grisdale did not gain a 50% majority, and was defeated by less than 100 votes after Ash second choice preferences were cast.
Cook ran for his second term in office in the 1944 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1944
The Alberta general election of 1944 was the tenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. The Assembly was dissolved on July 8, 1944 and the vote for was held on August 8, 1944 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. Despite running against two other candidates, he swept the district with nearly 67% of the popular vote. Cook continued to gain in popularity, winning a super majority of 74% in his re-election bid for the 1948 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1948
The Alberta general election of 1948 was the eleventh general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on August 17, 1948 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
.
Cook died in 1950, causing his district to become vacant.