Frank McKenna

Francis Joseph (Frank) McKenna (born January 19, 1948) was a Premier of New Brunswick. Born in Apohaqui[?], McKenna entered provincial politics in 1982 when he was elected to the New Brunswick legislative assembly. He became leader of the provincial Liberal party in 1985, and won the largest electoral victory in Canadian history in 1987 when his party won every seat in the legislature.

McKenna's term in office was viewed mostly as a success. He encouraged small business growth and tried to entice large companies to invest in the province. He was a master of political image making and control, creating a government paid team of media personnel. They filmed and wrote about numerous government projects and the Premier in a favourable light that were distributed to the various media outlets. Often, the same ribbon-cutting ceremony and the like, would be seen several times in shots taken from different angles with a variety of subtext.

During his lengthy term in office he was criticised for having never dealt with the power of the Irving Family[?] industrial interests that dominate the Province's economy and control three of the Province's four major newspapers.

Believing ten years was long enough for a premier to hold office, McKenna resigned in 1997. He now practices law in the Moncton area.