John Dahmer

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John Roderick Dahmer
In office
November 21 – November 26, 1988
Preceded by new district
Succeeded by Deborah Grey
Born September 5, 1937
Red Deer, Alberta
Died November 26, 1988
Political party Progressive Conservative
Residence Elk Point, Alberta
Occupation Educator

John R. Dahmer (September 5, 1937 - 26 November 1988) was elected a member of the Canadian House of Commons in 1988. His background was in education. A school teacher, guidance councelor, principal, and later involved in adult education, correctional education and vocational training. He was a Director at Lakeland College.

He was elected in the 1988 federal election at the Beaver River electoral district for the Progressive Conservative party. But the member-elect was terminally stricken with pancreatic cancer and never saw the first day of the 34th Canadian Parliament[1] [2].

Dahmer had entered Edmonton's Royal Alexandra Hospital on 28 October 1988, after suffering symptoms similar to adult onset type two diabetes, but the extent his condition was not widely known until after election night.[2] However, by the time cancer was discovered it was after the official deadline to withdraw from the general election, and at that point it was not certain the cancer could not be successfully treated with chemotherapy.

Dahmer died five days after the election, too late for the House of Commons' Deputy Clerk to arrive for a swearing-in ceremony.[3] Despite this, Parliamentary policy allowed Dahmer's widow to receive a $29,150 severance which was equivalent to six months salary in office.[4] This money was used to establish the John Dahmer Community Involvement Scholarship at Lakeland College.

As of 2008, he holds the record for the shortest term as a federal Member of Parliament in Canadian history. However, as he was never officially sworn in as a Member of Parliament, he is also the only one whose term in office is counted from the actual date of the election.

Donna Lynne Dahmer, born Coulter, November 23, 1939, ran unsuccessfully for the Beaver River Progressive Conservative nomination after her husband's untimely death, but ultimately lost to Dave Brodey of Smokey Lake. Brodey lost in the subsequent bi-election to Deborah Grey.

Dahmer was succeeded by Deborah Grey of the Reform Party in March 1989. She finished in fourth place (4,158) by a large margin behind Dahmer (13,768) in the November 1988 federal election.


[edit] References

  1. ^ Schut, Jessie. "Profile: Deborah Grey", Living Light News, November/December 1995. Retrieved on 2006-12-15. 
  2. ^ a b Canadian Press. "New MP victim of cancer", Ottawa Citizen, 24 November 1988, p. A4. 
  3. ^ The House of Commons and Its Members. House of Commons Procedure and Practice Section 4 (2000). Retrieved on 2006-12-15.
  4. ^ Canadian Press. "Five-day MP's death leaves family $29,150", The Gazette (Montreal), 19 January 1989, p. B1. 

[edit] External links

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