Edward Russell Helwer (born 20 December 1940) is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served as a Progressive Conservative member of the Manitoba legislature from 1988 to 2003. Although the Manitoba Progressive Conservative Party was in power for most of this period, Helwer was never appointed to a cabinet position (though he did serve as Party Whip at one point).
Biography
Helwer was born in Selkirk, Manitoba. He worked as an Esso agent from 1963 to 1974, and was a Macleod Authorized Dealer from 1974 to 1983. From 1976 to 1996, he was also the owner of a small business called Rockwood Farm Supplies. Helwer served as a municipal councillor in Teulon from 1969 to 1973 and 1977 to 1980, and was the town's Mayor from 1980 to 1988. He was also chair of the Hunter Hospital Board from 1977 to 1987.
Helwer first ran for the Manitoba legislature in the 1986 provincial election, losing to New Democratic Party incumbent John Bucklaschuk by about 950 votes in the riding of Gimli. In the 1988 election (called after the NDP government lost a budget vote and held during a period of unpopularity for the party), Helwer defeated Bucklaschuk by about 1400 votes to win the riding.