Helmut Pankratz

Helmut Pankratz (born October 10, 1937<ref name=members/>) is a retired Canadian politician from Manitoba. Pankratz served as mayor of Steinbach from 1981 to 1986.<ref>"City of Steinbach" (21 November 2010). Manitoba Historical Society. Retrieved 12/18/2010.</ref> From 1986 to 1990, he represented the electoral district of La Verendrye for the Progressive Conservative Party in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.<ref name=members/>

He was born to a Mennonite familyTemplate:Citation needed in Winnipeg. His parents were Henry and Justina Pankratz. Before entering politics, he worked as a farmer. On August 24, 1961, he married Dolores Jean and had two children with her: Kevin Blair and Jillayne Fay.<ref name=guide>Normandin, P.G.; A. Léopold Normandin (1990). Canadian Parliamentary Guide. Gale Canada, p.589</ref>

Pankratz was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the provincial election of 1986, defeating Walter McDowell of the NDP by almost 2,000 votes.<ref>Normandin, P.G. (1988). The Canadian parliamentary guide. p.840</ref> In the 1988 election, he defeated Liberal C.E. Goertzen by over 1,400 votes as the Progressive Conservatives formed a minority government under Gary Filmon.<ref>Normandin (1990), p.596</ref>

Pankratz was not appointed to cabinet, but served as Chairman of the Standing Committee on Economic Development.<ref>"Legislative Reports" (6 December 2010). Canadian Parliamentary Review. Retrieved 12/19/2010.</ref> He retired from the legislature at the calling of the 1990 provincial election, and has not returned to political life since this time.<ref name=members>"MLA Biographies - Living" Template:Webarchive (4 November 2009). The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. Retrieved 12/19/2010.</ref> He now owns a recreational vehicle dealership in the Steinbach area.<ref>"BBB Reliability Report for Holiday R. V. Centre" (2010). Better Business Bureau. Retrieved 12/19/2010.</ref>