Paul Dawson (politician)

Dawson was elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party (PC) for the riding of Miramichi-Newcastle in the 1982 New Brunswick election.^[2] He served as the Minister of Economic Development and, later, as Minister of Income Assistance in the cabinet of Richard Hatfield.^[3] He lost his seat to John McKay in the 1987 election when the Liberals won all 58 seats in the Legislature.^[2][4]

In 1990, Dawson was appointed to a two-year term as a member of the Miramichi Public Harbours Advisory Council.^[2]

Dawson ran in the 1991 election as the PC candidate for Miramichi-Newcastle.^[2] He was defeated by McKay by 10 votes, a margin that was increased to 22 votes in a recount.^[5]

Dawson also served a councillor for the City of Miramichi.^[6]

Dawson served as president of Softball New Brunswick from 1972 to 1979 and as vice-president of Softball Canada from 1980 to 1982. In 1994, he was inducted to the Softball New Brunswick Hall of Fame.^[7] In 2002, he was inducted in the builders category of the Canadian Softball Hall of Fame.^[6][8]

Dawson and his wife Betty had two children.^[9] Dawson died of cancer in Moncton on April 3, 2005, at the age of 60.^[2][9]