Herbert Joseph Ash (1878-1959) was a provincial level politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1935 to 1940. Ash served as a member of the Governing Social Credit caucus, and later as an Independent Social Credit member while representing the electoral district of Olds.
Herbert Joseph Ash | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta | |
| In office 1935–1940 | |
| Preceded by | Frank Grisdale |
| Succeeded by | Norman Cook |
| Constituency | Olds |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 13, 1878 London, England[1] |
| Died | March 14, 1959 (aged 81) |
Political career
Ash ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature in the 1935 Alberta general election. He won the electoral district of Olds as a candidate for the Social Credit party. Ash won a huge majority taking 66% of the vote defeating three other candidates including incumbent Agriculture Minister Frank Grisdale.[2] In 1937, Ash was one of the insurgents in the Social Credit backbenchers' revolt.[3]
Ash was removed from the Social Credit caucus citing a difference of opinion with Premier William Aberhart in 1940. The Social Credit Candidate Advisory Board refused to let him run for the party. He was dropped as a candidate by the Social Credit advisory board.[4] Ash decided to stand for re-election anyway as an Independent Social Credit candidate.[5]
Ash faced off in a three-way battle with Grisdale, who this time ran as an Independent and Social Credit candidate Norman Cook. The first vote showed Ash easily defeated running a distant third place. Grisdale was leading 110 votes ahead of Cook. Grisdale did not have a 50% majority so the Ash's second preferences were counted. Most of the second choices game Cook just enough votes to win the district and defeat Grisdale.[6]