William Ernest Payne
Encyclopedia
William Ernest Payne was a lawyer and provincial politician from Alberta
, Canada
. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
from 1931 to 1935 sitting with the Conservative caucus in opposition.
, Alberta
in 1902 and joined the law firm started by George Welling Greene. He worked as a lawyer in Red Deer for many years until he attempted to win a seat in the Alberta Legislature.
in the 1926 Alberta general election
in the Red Deer electoral district. He faced a hotly contested three way race against incumbent George Smith
and former MLA John Gaetz
. Payne was eliminated losing to Smith on the second vote count.
Payne ran for a second time in the 1930 Alberta general election
. He would face Smith for the second time in a two way race. Payne came very close to winning, when the polls showed he was short by 88 votes.
Smited died in 1931 forcing a by-election that was held on November 16, 1931. Payne ran for office for his third time and won the hotly contested race defeating United Farmers candidate R.L. Gaetz by a couple hundred votes to pick up the district.
Payne ran for a second term in office in the 1935 Alberta general election
but was defeated by Social Credit
candidate Alfred Hooke
who ended up winning in a landslide. Payne finished a distant fourth out of five candidates.
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 1931 to 1935 sitting with the Conservative caucus in opposition.
Early life
Payne moved to Red DeerRed Deer, Alberta
Red Deer is a city in Central Alberta, Canada. It is located near the midpoint of the Calgary-Edmonton Corridor and is surrounded by Red Deer County. It is Alberta's third-most-populous city – after Calgary and Edmonton. The city is located in aspen parkland, a region of rolling hills...
, 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...
in 1902 and joined the law firm started by George Welling Greene. He worked as a lawyer in Red Deer for many years until he attempted to win a seat in the Alberta Legislature.
Political career
Payne ran as a candidate for the ConservativesProgressive Conservative Association of Alberta
The Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta is a provincial centre-right party in the Canadian province of Alberta...
in the 1926 Alberta general election
Alberta 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...
in the Red Deer electoral district. He faced a hotly contested three way race against incumbent George Smith
George Wilbert Smith
George Wilbert Smith was a teacher, businessman and politician on the municipal and provincial levels of government in Alberta, Canada...
and former MLA John Gaetz
John Gaetz
John Jost Gaetz was a provincial politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1918 to 1921 sitting with the Liberal caucus in government.-Early life:...
. Payne was eliminated losing to Smith on the second vote count.
Payne ran for a second time in the 1930 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1930
The Alberta general election of 1930 was the seventh general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 19, 1930 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. He would face Smith for the second time in a two way race. Payne came very close to winning, when the polls showed he was short by 88 votes.
Smited died in 1931 forcing a by-election that was held on November 16, 1931. Payne ran for office for his third time and won the hotly contested race defeating United Farmers candidate R.L. Gaetz by a couple hundred votes to pick up the district.
Payne ran for a second term in office 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 was defeated by Social Credit
Social Credit Party of Alberta
The Alberta Social Credit Party is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada, that was founded on the social credit monetary policy and conservative Christian social values....
candidate Alfred Hooke
Alfred Hooke
Alfred "Alf" John Hooke was a teacher, provincial politician and author from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1935 to 1971 sitting with the Social Credit party in government...
who ended up winning in a landslide. Payne finished a distant fourth out of five candidates.