Harry Shafransky
Harry Shafransky was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served as a New [Democratic Party of Manitoba|New Democratic] member of the Legislative [Assembly of Manitoba] from 1969 to 1977.
Born in Poland, he came to Canada while still young and grew up on a farm near Roblin, Manitoba. Shafransky was educated at the University of Manitoba. He worked as a teacher in northern British Columbia and then Winnipeg before entering politics. He ran for the House of Commons of Canada in the 1965 [Canadian federal election|federal election of 1965], finishing a relatively strong third in the Winnipeg riding of St. Boniface. His first venture into provincial politics was not as successful; he challenged Liberal Party|Liberal] leader Gildas Molgat in Ste. Rose in the 1966 [Manitoba general election|1966 election], and finished a distant fourth with only 86 votes.
He ran for federal office again in the 1968 election, and placed a more respectable second while still finishing well behind Liberal Joseph-Philippe Guay, the winner.
Shafransky was finally elected to office in the 1969 provincial election, scoring a fairly easy victory in the northeast Winnipeg riding of Radisson. He was re-elected over Progressive [Conservative Party of Manitoba|Progressive Conservative] challenge Abe Kovnats in the 1973 election.
Shafransky did not serve in the cabinet of Edward Schreyer. He was defeated by Kovnats in the 1977 election, and did not seek a political comeback thereafter.
After leaving politics, he worked in the Manitoba departments of Highways and Transportation, Environment and Natural Resources. Shafransky died in Winnipeg at the age of 56 of a heart attack.