Editing Elwin Hermanson (section)

== Political career ==

=== Federal politics ===
Hermanson first ran for political office in the [[1988 Canadian federal election]] as a member of the fledgling Reform Party, a western protest party with a platform mixing [[western alienation]] with [[social conservatism]]. The party failed to have any members elected. However, Reform surged to third-party status in the [[1993 Canadian federal election|1993 election]], and Hermanson was one of four Reform MPs elected in Saskatchewan.<ref>Bob Rowlands, "The kooks from the West?' Watch it, that's fighting talk". ''[[Victoria Times-Colonist]]'', October 27, 1993.</ref> He was the Reform Party House Leader from 1993 to 1995.<ref>Scott Feschuk, "Neophyte Reformers get ready for Ottawa First caucus meeting briefs new MPs on policy, structure, House rules". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', November 8, 1993.</ref> Following a redistribution he ran in the [[1997 Canadian federal election|1997 election]] in the new riding of [[Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar]]; while the Reform Party continued to attract voters, becoming the Official Opposition, Hermanson lost his seat to fellow incumbent [[Chris Axworthy]] of the [[New Democratic Party]].<ref>Ned Powers, "Social activism in his blood". ''[[Saskatoon Star-Phoenix]]'', July 21, 1997.</ref>

=== Saskatchewan Party ===
Following his federal election loss in 1997, Hermanson turned his attention to provincial politics. That year also saw the foundation of the Saskatchewan Party as a new conservative party in the province, bringing together former [[Progressive Conservative Party of Saskatchewan|Progressive Conservatives]], some [[Liberal Party of Saskatchewan|Liberal]] members, and Reform Party organizers.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Blake |first=Raymond |title=Saskatchewan Politics: Crowding the Centre |publisher=Canadian Plains Research Centre |year=2008 |isbn=9780889772342 |editor-last=Leeson |editor-first=Howard A. |location=[[Regina, Saskatchewan|Regina]] |pages=169&ndash;170 |language=en-CA |chapter=The Saskatchewan Party and the Politics of Branding}}</ref> Hermanson sought the leadership of the new party in 1998, facing off against [[Rod Gantefoer]], a former Liberal member of the [[Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan]] (MLA), and political newcomer [[Yogi Huyghebaert]]. On April 20, 1998, Hermanson was elected the first Saskatchewan Party leader in a [[one member one vote|one member, one vote]] election.<ref>Martin O'Hanlon, "Former Reformer to head Sask opposition". ''[[Saskatoon Star-Phoenix]]'', April 20, 1998.</ref> Aware that the conservative base in the province was in rural areas, Hermanson stated that people "know I have the best interests of the agriculture industry and rural Saskatchewan at heart because that's where I still live".<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |last=Briere |first=Karen |date=1998-04-23 |title=Saskatchewan Party elects Hermanson as first leader |url=https://www.producer.com/news/saskatchewan-party-elects-hermanson-as-first-leader/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231111170121/https://www.producer.com/news/saskatchewan-party-elects-hermanson-as-first-leader/ |archive-date=2023-11-11 |access-date=2023-11-11 |work=[[The Western Producer]]}}</ref> Hermanson did not have a seat in the legislature, and he declined to run in a 1998 Saskatoon by-election, instead waiting for the next general election to run for a seat.<ref name=":6" /> This left [[Ken Krawetz]] to serve as the interim House Opposition leader.

Under Hermanson, the Saskatchewan Party campaigned on an ambitious fiscal conservative platform, calling for major corporate and income tax cuts, along with a number of controversial and social conservative policies, from a commitment to consider privatizing [[crown corporations]] to work-for-welfare policies and an end to public affirmative action.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Blake |title=Crowding the Centre |pages=171 |chapter=The Saskatchewan Party}}</ref>

Hermanson was elected in the [[1999 Saskatchewan general election|1999 provincial election]] for [[Rosetown–Biggar (provincial electoral district)|Rosetown–Biggar]] and, leading the Saskatchewan Party to a strong performance, became [[Leader of the Opposition (Saskatchewan)|Leader of the Opposition]].<ref name="braden">Bonny Braden, "Hermanson defied pollsters". ''[[Saskatoon Star-Phoenix]]'', September 17, 1999.</ref> The new party shocked the province in winning a small plurality of the popular vote, but it was completely shut out in the urban centres of [[Regina, Saskatchewan|Regina]] and [[Saskatoon]]. Ultimately, this left the Saskatchewan Party with 25 seats. However, the result reduced the [[Saskatchewan New Democratic Party]] (NDP) to a minority government with 29 seats, forcing [[Premier of Saskatchewan|Premier]] [[Roy Romanow]] to form a coalition government with the remaining Liberals.<ref name="braden" />

After this strong performance, Hermanson was widely expected to lead the party to victory in the next election, and the party led polling heading into 2003.<ref>Murray Mandryk, "Hermanson's dream of power left unrealized". ''[[Saskatoon Star-Phoenix]]'', December 30, 2003.</ref> The party again campaigned on a platform of tax reductions and decreased government involvement in the economy, but it remained bogged down by questions about its conservatism and its plans for crown corporations. Hermanson continued to state that he would be willing to entertain offers for the province's crown corporations and the NDP, now led by [[Lorne Calvert]], made this a focal point of their campaign.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Branch |first=Julian |date=2003-10-18 |title=Calvert unveils NDP strategy |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/calvert-unveils-ndp-strategy/article1047459/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307211221/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/calvert-unveils-ndp-strategy/article1047459/ |archive-date=2017-03-07 |access-date=2023-11-16 |work=[[The Globe and Mail]]}}</ref> At one point in the campaign, Hermanson criticized the NDP for a leaked internal cartoon that depicted him as a [[Nazism|Nazi]] loading NDP sympathizers onto rail cars.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2003-10-15 |title=Sask. Party still furious over 'Nazi' cartoon |url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1066228569054_61637769/?hub=Canada |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051205205631/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1066228569054_61637769/?hub=Canada |archive-date=2005-12-05 |access-date=2024-04-09 |work=[[CTV News]]}}</ref> Ultimately, the [[2003 Saskatchewan general election|2003 election]] would prove a major disappointment for the Saskatchewan Party as the NDP won a bare majority.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Conway |first=John |date=2003-11-23 |title=NDP's left turn pays off |url=https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/historic/2003/11/23/ndps-left-turn-pays-off |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407172413/https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/historic/2003/11/23/ndps-left-turn-pays-off |archive-date=2024-04-07 |access-date=2024-04-07 |work=[[Winnipeg Free Press]]}}</ref> While Hermanson's party made a net gain of two seats, both in Saskatoon, it was shut out of Regina once again. Hermanson resigned days after the election.<ref>"Opposition leader quitting after party lost election". ''[[Waterloo Region Record]]'', November 20, 2003.</ref> However, he committed to remaining the MLA for Rosetown–Elrose.<ref>James Wood, "Hermanson weighing options". ''[[Regina Leader-Post]]'', November 5, 2004.</ref> In March 2004, Hermanson was succeeded by [[Brad Wall]] when he was acclaimed the new Saskatchewan Party leader.<ref>James Wood, "A Wall of support: Brad Wall acclaimed as Sask. Party leader". ''[[Regina Leader-Post]]'', March 16, 2004.</ref>

On June 23, 2006, Hermanson announced that he would not be seeking re-election to the legislature, marking the end of his run in provincial politics.<ref>James Wood, "Hermanson announces he won't seek re-election". ''[[Regina Leader-Post]]'', June 24, 2006.</ref> Wall would lead the Saskatchewan Party to a majority government in the 2007 election, while party member Jim Reiter succeeded Hermanson as Rosetown–Elrose MLA.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2011-10-20 |title=Rosetown-Elrose |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/rosetown-elrose-1.1095666 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240409225419/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/rosetown-elrose-1.1095666 |archive-date=2024-04-09 |access-date=2024-04-09 |work=[[CBC News]]}}</ref>