Mike Chornohus
Encyclopedia
Mike Chornohus was a farmer and a provincial politician from Alberta
, Canada
. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
from 1922 to 1926 sitting with the United Farmers caucus in government.
as a United Farmers
candidate in the electoral district of Whitford
in the 1921 Alberta general election
. The returning officer William Hawereliak did not accept his nomination papers on the grounds that it was improperly filled out with the claim that Chornohus signed his name with a "Z" and not an "S".
This legal technicality left Liberal incumbent Andrew Shandro to be returned by acclamation. The United Farmers of Alberta
immediately took the matter to court to try and get an injunction to prevent the acclamation of Shandro.
The court action while unable to immediately prevent Shandro from being acclaimed was successful and resulted in having the results voided on December 4, 1921 causing Shandro to lose his seat. The court found that Chronohus nomination papers were denied for partisan reasons so that Shandro would be the only candidate in the race. They also found that Hawereliak was related to Shandro. The new writs for a by-election were issued for July 10, 1922 and the returning officer was replaced. The race was a rerun between Chronohus and Shandro, with Shandro getting defeated in a landslide.
.
Chornohus ran for re-nomination at a convention held on June 5, 1926 at Boian
, Alberta
. He was defeated finishing last among the four contenders by George Mihalcheon
. Chronohus chose to retire after losing his party nomination and did not run for a second term in office when the Assembly was dissolved in 1926.
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 1922 to 1926 sitting with the United Farmers caucus in government.
Election and court action
Chornohus ran for a seat to the Legislative Assembly of AlbertaLegislative 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...
as a United Farmers
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...
candidate in the electoral district of Whitford
Whitford (provincial electoral district)
Whitford was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. The district was created in 1913 out of the south west part of the Pakan district and the north part of Vegreville.In 1940 the district was split between Redwater, Willingdon and Vegreville....
in the 1921 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1921
The Alberta general election of 1921 was the fifth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on July 18, 1921 to elect members to the 5th Alberta Legislative Assembly....
. The returning officer William Hawereliak did not accept his nomination papers on the grounds that it was improperly filled out with the claim that Chornohus signed his name with a "Z" and not an "S".
This legal technicality left Liberal incumbent Andrew Shandro to be returned by acclamation. The 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...
immediately took the matter to court to try and get an injunction to prevent the acclamation of Shandro.
The court action while unable to immediately prevent Shandro from being acclaimed was successful and resulted in having the results voided on December 4, 1921 causing Shandro to lose his seat. The court found that Chronohus nomination papers were denied for partisan reasons so that Shandro would be the only candidate in the race. They also found that Hawereliak was related to Shandro. The new writs for a by-election were issued for July 10, 1922 and the returning officer was replaced. The race was a rerun between Chronohus and Shandro, with Shandro getting defeated in a landslide.
Legislative career
Chornohus took his seat on July 24, 1922 at the opening of the second session in the 5th Alberta Legislative Assembly5th Alberta Legislative Assembly
The 5th Alberta Legislative Assembly lasted from 1921 until 1926. The United Farmers of Alberta swept into power after contesting their first general election held in 1921.-Standings changes since the 5th general election:...
.
Chornohus ran for re-nomination at a convention held on June 5, 1926 at Boian
Boian, Alberta
Boian, is an unincorporated community in Alberta, Canada. It is located in the floodplain of the North Saskatchewan River, 6 km east of Willingdon, in Two Hills County...
, Alberta
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...
. He was defeated finishing last among the four contenders by George Mihalcheon
George Mihalcheon
George M. Mihalcheon was a provincial politician farmer, teacher and shopkeeper from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1926 to 1930 sitting with the United Farmers caucus in government.-Early life:...
. Chronohus chose to retire after losing his party nomination and did not run for a second term in office when the Assembly was dissolved in 1926.