Wally Andersen (born July 31, 1951) is a former Liberal Member of the House of Assembly in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. He was first elected in 1996 in the riding Torngat Mountains and was re-elected twice.[4][5]

Wally Andersen
Member of the Nunatsiavut Assembly for Upper Lake Melville
Assumed office
2022[1]
Serving with Gerald Asivak
Preceded byMarlene Winters-Wheeler
Mayor of Happy Valley-Goose Bay
In office
December 15, 2017 – October 4, 2021[2]
Preceded byJohn Hickey
Succeeded byGeorge Andrews[3]
Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
for Torngat Mountains
In office
1996–2007
Preceded byWilliam Andersen III
Succeeded byPatty Pottle
Personal details
Born (1951-07-31) July 31, 1951 (age 72)
Makkovik, Newfoundland and Labrador
Political partyLiberal
SpouseMarie
Residence(s)Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador

The son of Edgar Andersen and Muriel Lucy, he was born in Makkovik, Labrador and was educated in North West River. In 1975, he married Marie Delaney. Andersen was manager for the government stores in Labrador from 1974 to 1996. He was a member of the council for Happy Valley-Goose Bay.[4] Andersen served 12 years as president of the local hockey association.[5]

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary charged Wally Anderson on July 23, 2007, with fraud, uttering a forged document and breach of trust in connection with the multimillion-dollar legislative spending scandal.[6] He officially resigned from the legislature on September 5 of that year, leaving the Torngat Mountains riding vacant until the 2007 provincial election was called shortly thereafter.[7] Among his successors as the MHA for Torngat Mountains include his nephew Randy Edmunds and niece Lela Evans.[8]

Andersen was released in December 2009 after serving three months of a 15-month sentence.[9]

In 2016, he won a by-election for the Happy Valley-Goose Bay town council defeating 3 other candidates.[10] He was re-elected in the 2017 municipal elections, and became Deputy Mayor. Following the death of Mayor John Hickey in December 2017, Andersen became acting Mayor of the town and was later named Mayor in early 2018.[11] Andersen announced in August 2021 that he would not be seeking re-election.[12]

Andersen was elected to the Nunatsiavut Assembly[1] in May 2022. He represents Upper Lake Melville (Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Mud Lake and North West River) and serves alongside his brother Anthony Andersen (representing Nain) and nephew Thomas Evans (representing Makkovik). Andersen defeated incumbent member Marlene Winters-Wheeler for the 2-member district (the other winner was Gerald Asivak).

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Official results of May 3 general election for Ordinary Members to the Nunatsiavut Assembly" (PDF). nunatsiavut.com. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  2. ^ "Swearing-In Ceremony of the 13th Council of the Town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay". Town of Happy Valley Goose Bay. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  3. ^ @nikmercer (September 29, 2021). "George Andrews will be the new mayor of Happy Valley-Goose Bay.He will be joined by Darrell Bennett, Todd Winters,…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  4. ^ a b O'Handley, Kathryn (1997). Canadian Parliamentary Guide. ISBN 1-896413-43-9.
  5. ^ a b "Torngat Mountains". Newfoundland and Labrador Votes 2003. CBC News.
  6. ^ "Labrador Liberal charged in spending scandal". CTV News. July 23, 2007. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  7. ^ "N.L. MHA resigns in wake of criminal charges". CBC News. August 9, 2007. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  8. ^ @NL_HOA (July 12, 2021). "Lela Evans (MHA 2019-present) represents the District of Torngat Mountains. The district was represented by her cou…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. ^ "Former N.L. cabinet minister convicted of fraud released from jail". The News. December 31, 2009.
  10. ^ "Wally Andersen, convicted politician, wins seat on Happy Valley-Goose Bay council". CBC News. June 10, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  11. ^ "With a heavy heart, Wally Andersen takes over as mayor of Happy Valley-Goose Bay". CBC News. December 15, 2017. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  12. ^ "Wally Andersen not seeking re-election as mayor of Happy Valley-Goose Bay | SaltWire".