| Francis Leo Gainer | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta | |
| In office June 29, 1955 – May 23, 1967 |
|
| Preceded by | Lee Leavitt |
| Succeeded by | Clarence Copithorne |
| Constituency | Banff-Cochrane |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Coalition |
| Occupation | politician |
Francis "Frank" Leo 'Pop' Gainer was a provincial level politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1955 to 1967. During his time in office he sat as a Coalition member in the legislature as a supporter of both the Progressive Conservative and Liberal parties.
Gainer ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature in the 1955 general election. He defeated Social Credit incumbent Lee Leavitt running as a Coalition candidate.[1]
He ran for a second term in office in the 1959 Alberta general election. The election was hotly contested with Gainer just barely hanging onto his seat. He won the straight fight against Social Credit candidate Robin Echlin by just 71 votes.[2]
Due to Gainers Coalition label, it was thought that he would be chosen as leader of the official opposition after the 1959 general election. There were only four opposition candidates elected to the Legislature and those four were under all different banners with Ernest Watkins being Progressive Conservative and Michael Maccagno being Liberal it was predicted that Gainer would unite them to form a three man opposition.[3] No opposition leader was chosen during that legislature however.
Gainer ran for a third term in office in the 1963 Alberta general election. He was returned to office with a slightly smaller vote share then in 1959 defeating two other candidates.[4]
Gainer retired from the Legislature at dissolution in 1967.[5]