James Punch

James Punch
MLA
Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
for Westminster
In office
June 13, 1890 – July 7, 1894
Preceded bydistrict established
Succeeded bydistrict abolished
7th Mayor of Surrey
In office
1888–1890
Preceded byThomas Shannon
Succeeded byH. T. Thrift and William Brown
Personal details
Bornc. 1841
Nova Scotia
Died1922
Spouse
Jane McKay
​
(m. 1871)​

James Punch was a Canadian politician in British Columbia. He was the mayor of Surrey, British Columbia from 1888 to 1890, and was elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1890 to 1894. Punch attempted to be re-elected in 1894 but was unsuccessful. Alongside his political career, Punch was a prominent businessman in Brownsville and was the proprietor of the Brownsville Hotel from 1882 to 1897.

Electoral record

1890 British Columbia general election: Westminster
Party Candidate Votes%Elected
GovernmentJohn Robson50617.66Green tickY
OppositionThomas Edwin Kitchen50317.55Green tickY
IndependentJames Punch48416.89Green tickY
IndependentColin Buchanan Sword46116.08
GovernmentJohn A. Kirkland42014.65
GovernmentJohn Calvin Henderson34912.18
IndependentArthur Herring812.83
OppositionMarshall Sinclair622.16
Total valid votes 2,866100.00
Source: Elections BC
Note: Robson also won the seat of Cariboo in the 1890 general election, and resigned his Westminster seat prior to the first session of the new legislature. Sword won the subsequent by-election on November 7, 1890.
1894 British Columbia general election: Westminster-Delta
Party Candidate Votes%Elected
OppositionThomas William Forster54563.23Green tickY
GovernmentJames Punch31736.77
Total valid votes 862100.00
Source: Elections BC

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Punch & Quible — Brownsville BC Pioneers". opposite the city. February 16, 2012. Archived from the original on May 7, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Electoral History of British Columbia 1871-1986" (PDF). Elections BC. 1988. Retrieved January 9, 2025.