Kenneth John Burgess (January 5, 1928 – September 10, 2005)[1] was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He is the longest-serving mayor of Brandon, Manitoba, having held the position from 1979 to 1989.

Burgess was chair of the Brandon school board in the late 1960s.[2] He ran for the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba in the 1973 municipal election as a candidate of the Progressive Conservative Party, and was defeated by New Democratic Party incumbent Leonard Evans in the division of Brandon East.

Burgess was first elected Mayor of Brandon in a 1979 by-election. He was returned by acclamation in 1980,[3] and was re-elected in 1983 and 1986.[4] Burgess was often involved in disagreements with the federal government over the subsidy for Brandon's airport.[5]

He was defeated by challenger Rick Borotsik in 1989. During this campaign, both of his opponents argued that he lacked the leadership skills to run Brandon in an effective manner.[6]

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Footnotes

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  1. ^ "Memorable Manitobans: Kenneth John Burgess (1928-2005)".
  2. ^ Winnipeg Free Press, 1 February 1969, p. 4.
  3. ^ "Winnipeg millionaire takes on coalition", Globe and Mail, 14 October 1980, P8.
  4. ^ Kevin Rollason, "They left huge legacies", Winnipeg Free Press, 2 January 2006, B5.
  5. ^ "Brandon receives airport subsidy", Globe and Mail, 12 March 1987, A8.
  6. ^ Randy Turner, "Three fight for office", Winnipeg Free Press, 21 October 1989, 2. He was 61 years old at the time.