Kenneth John Burgess (January 5, 1928 - September 10, 2005)[1] was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He is the longest-serving mayor of Brandon, Manitoba, having held the position from 1979 to 1989.
Burgess was chair of the Brandon school board in the late 1960s.[2] He ran for the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba in the 1973 municipal election as a candidate of the Progressive Conservative Party, and was defeated by New Democratic Party incumbent Leonard Evans in the division of Brandon East.
Burgess was first elected Mayor of Brandon in a 1979 by-election. He was returned by acclamation in 1980,[3] and was re-elected in 1983 and 1986.[4] Burgess was often involved in disagreements with the federal government over the subsidy for Brandon's airport.[5]
He was defeated by challenger Rick Borotsik in 1989. During this campaign, both of his opponents argued that he lacked the leadership skills to run Brandon in an effective manner.[6]