Jon Hromek
Jon Hromek | |
|---|---|
 Jon Hromek | |
| Leader of the Saskatchewan United Party | |
| Assumed office May 16, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Nadine Wilson |
| Deputy Leader of the Saskatchewan United Party | |
| In office October 3, 2023 – May 16, 2024 | |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Saskatchewan United Party |
| Residence | Lumsden, Saskatchewan |
| Alma mater | University of Regina |
| Occupation | Business owner |
| Profession | Petroleum engineering |
Jonathan Hromek is a Canadian politician.[1] Hromek is the leader of the Saskatchewan United Party, and he was the party's first election candidate when he ran in the 2023 Lumsden-Morse provincial by-election.
Political career
[edit]Hromek launched his political career in the summer of 2023, when he became the first candidate to run for the Saskatchewan United Party (SUP), in the August Lumsden-Morse by-election. Running on a platform focused on "parental rights" in education, Hromek finished second to the Saskatchewan Party's Blaine McLeod with 23% of the vote, earning 35 more votes than the third place New Democratic Party candidate.[2] Hromek spoke positively of the result and suggested that the party would fare better in a full general election campaign.[3]
In 2023, Hromek contributed $200,000 to SUP through his company, Adonai Resources, representing roughly 40% of the total contributions for the party that year.[4][5] When asked about the large contribution, Hromek stated that he was "a firm believer that you put your money where your mouth is and that’s why I did that."[5] On October 3, 2023, Hromek was named the deputy leader of SUP.[6]
SUP leader (2024–present)
[edit]On May 16, 2024, it was announced that party founder Nadine Wilson was stepping down as leader, and that Hromek had been appointed as the new SUP leader.[5][7]
In October, Hromek launched SUP's campaign ahead of the 2024 provincial election.[8] He stated that the party hoped to elect at least two members to the Legislative Assembly.[8] Hromek pitched SUP as "a true conservative option" for the province, stating that the party would pursue increased privatization in the healthcare system, reintroduce standardized testing in the education system while placing greater limitations on sexual health education, and cut sales taxes and eliminate the provincial gas tax.[9] To raise revenues, Hromek promised increased potash royalty rates.[10] Hromek also stated that the party was committed to removing "ideology" from schools, including "genders" and discussion of the climate crisis.[8][9] While Hromek conceded that humans were responsible for climate change "to a certain extent," he falsely claimed that carbon dioxide had been 'demonized' as a 'pollutant'.[11]
SUP ultimately failed to have any candidates elected in the 2024 election; Wilson and Hromek finished third in their respective races, and the party finished a distant third overall, receiving nearly four percent of the popular vote.[12][13] Hromek stated that SUP "can hold our head high and be proud of ourselves with what we accomplished", taking credit for pressuring the Saskatchewan Party to move further right in its policies, including a late campaign promise for a bathroom bill.[14]
Personal life
[edit]Hromek trained as a Petroleum engineer, graduating with a Bachelors of Applied Sciences in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Regina in 2003.[15] He is the CEO and chairman of Adonai Resources II Corporation, an oil and gas exploration and production company.[7][11] He is a member of both the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Headquartered Oil Producers.[15]
Hromek is married with four children, and lives in the Lumsden area.[16]
Electoral record
[edit]| Saskatchewan provincial by-election, 10 August 2023: Lumsden-Morse (Resignation of Lyle Stewart) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||||
| Saskatchewan | Blaine McLeod | 2,696 | 53.42 | |||||
| Saskatchewan United | Jon Hromek | 1,145 | 22.69 | |||||
| New Democratic | Kaitlyn Stadnyk | 1,110 | 21.99 | |||||
| Buffalo | Les Guillemin | 56 | 1.11 | |||||
| Green | Isaiah Hunter | 40 | 0.79 | |||||
| Total valid votes | 5,047 | 100.00 | ||||||
| Source: Elections Saskatchewan[17] | ||||||||
References
[edit]- ^ "Candidate's Return of Election Expenses" (PDF). Elections Saskatchewan. 14 November 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ Garn, Nicole (2023-08-14). "Saskatchewan United Party leader happy with byelection results". CKOM. Archived from the original on 2023-08-14. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ Prisciak, David; Lynn, Josh (2023-08-10). "NDP swipes 2 Sask. Party seats in byelection wins". CTV News Regina. Archived from the original on 2023-08-12. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
- ^ "Sask Party raises $3.6M, leads in donations ahead of election". Sask Today. The Canadian Press. 2024-05-03. Archived from the original on 2024-05-18. Retrieved 2024-05-18.
- ^ a b c Prisciak, David (2024-05-16). "Nadine Wilson steps down as leader of Sask. United Party". CTV News Regina. Archived from the original on 2024-05-16. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
- ^ Cairns, John (2023-10-03). "Sask United Party names Jon Hromek deputy leader". SaskToday. Archived from the original on 2023-10-15. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
- ^ a b "Sask United Party announces new leader as Nadine Wilson steps down". CKOM. Rawlco Communications. 2024-05-16. Archived from the original on 2024-05-24. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
- ^ a b c Salloum, Alec (2024-10-02). "Sask. United Party and Sask. Buffalo Party unveil respective campaign platforms". Regina Leader-Post. Archived from the original on 2024-10-03. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
- ^ a b "Sask. United Party campaigns for foothold in tight race with promises to slash taxes, reform health care". CBC News. 2024-10-02. Archived from the original on 2024-10-03. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
- ^ Mandryk, Murray (2024-10-03). "Sask. United's platform, candidates familiar to Sask. Party". Regina Leader-Post. Archived from the original on 2024-10-03. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
- ^ a b Tank, Phil (2024-10-03). "Climate an unlikely election topic despite struggles in Sask". Saskatoon StarPhoenix. Archived from the original on 2024-10-03. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
- ^ Antonio, Jason G. (2024-10-29). "Sask. United Party can still be proud despite election loss, leader says". Sask Today. Archived from the original on 2024-11-11. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
- ^ "Saskatchewan Votes 2024". CBC News. Archived from the original on 2024-11-11. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ^ Antonio, Jason G. (2024-10-29). "Sask. United Party can still be proud despite election loss, leader says". Sask Today. Archived from the original on 2024-11-11. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
- ^ a b Prisciak, David (2024-10-02). "Leader Profile: Jon Hromek, Saskatchewan United Party". CTV News Saskatoon. Archived from the original on 2024-10-03. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
- ^ "Jon Hromek Lumsden-Morse". saskunited.ca. Saskatchewan United Party. Archived from the original on 2023-09-30. Retrieved 2024-05-18.
- ^ "2023 By-elections". Elections Saskatchewan. Archived from the original on 2023-08-12. Retrieved 2023-07-25.