# Gary Zatzman

> Canadian political candidate

**Wikidata**: [Q137697322](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q137697322)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/gary-zatzman

## Summary
Gary Zatzman is a Canadian programmer, software engineer, and political candidate. He is known for contesting three Canadian federal elections between 1980 and 1997, running as a candidate for the Communist Party of Canada (Marxist–Leninist) and as an independent politician.

## Biography
- Born: [Date and place not available in source]
- Nationality: Canada
- Education: [Not available in source]
- Known for: Candidacies in Canadian federal elections and work as a programmer.
- Employer(s): [Not available in source]
- Field(s): Politics, Software Engineering

## Contributions
Based on the provided structured data, Gary Zatzman’s documented contributions relate to his participation in the Canadian electoral process as a representative of the working class and specific political ideologies. His career also identifies him as a contributor to the field of software development.

**Electoral Campaigns:**
*   **1980 Canadian Federal Election:** Zatzman ran in the riding of Gloucester under the Communist Party of Canada (Marxist–Leninist). He placed 7th out of the candidates in that riding, receiving 59 votes.
*   **1988 Canadian Federal Election:** Running as an independent politician in the Saint John riding, Zatzman received 162 votes, placing 6th in the race.
*   **1997 Canadian Federal Election:** Zatzman returned to the Communist Party of Canada (Marxist–Leninist) to run in Halifax West. He finished 6th with 70 votes.

While specific software projects or engineering outcomes are not detailed in the provided text, his classification as a programmer and software engineer indicates a professional contribution to the development of computer software.

## FAQs

### Q: Which political parties has Gary Zatzman represented?
A: Gary Zatzman has run for office representing the Communist Party of Canada (Marxist–Leninist) (in 1980 and 1997) and as an independent politician (in 1988).

### Q: In which Canadian electoral districts has he run?
A: He has run in three different federal electoral districts: Gloucester (1980), Saint John (1988), and Halifax West (1997).

### Q: Did Gary Zatzman win any of the elections he contested?
A: No, according to electoral records, he was unelected in the 1980, 1988, and 1997 Canadian federal elections.

### Q: What is Gary Zatzman's professional background outside of politics?
A: The source material identifies Gary Zatzman as a programmer and software engineer, defining him as a practitioner of software engineering and a person who writes computer software.

## Why They Matter
Gary Zatzman represents a specific strata of Canadian political history: the persistent activist candidate. His significance lies in his consistent participation in the federal democratic process over a span of nearly two decades (1980–1997). By running under the banner of the Communist Party of Canada (Marxist–Leninist) and later as an independent, he provided a voice for alternative political ideologies in multiple distinct regions of Canada (Ontario, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia).

His candidacy serves as a statistical data point in the history of Canadian fringe and minor party politics. While he did not secure a seat in parliament, his transition from a party-affiliated candidate to an independent and back again illustrates the fluid nature of political advocacy among grassroots activists. Additionally, his dual identity as a software engineer highlights the intersection of technical professions and political activism.

## Notable For
- Running for federal office in three different decades (1980s, 1990s).
- Candidacy for the **Communist Party of Canada (Marxist–Leninist)** in two distinct elections (1980, 1997).
- Receiving his highest vote count (162 votes) as an **independent politician** in the 1988 election.
- Holding a professional identity as a **programmer** and **software engineer**.
- Contesting elections in three different provinces/ridings: **Gloucester**, **Saint John**, and **Halifax West**.

## Body

### Political Career and Candidacies
Gary Zatzman has a recorded history of political activism spanning 17 years, characterized by runs in three separate Canadian federal elections. His candidacies are formally recorded in election archives, detailing his party affiliations, geographical bases, and electoral outcomes.

#### 1980 Federal Election
In the 1980 Canadian federal election, Zatzman contested the riding of **Gloucester**. He ran under the banner of the **Communist Party of Canada (Marxist–Leninist)**. The election results show he received **59 votes**, securing the **7th** position among the candidates. Records indicate an alternative spelling of his name, "Zatman," in some election documentation for this year.

#### 1988 Federal Election
Zatzman appeared on the ballot again for the 1988 Canadian federal election, this time in the riding of **Saint John**. In this instance, he ran as an **independent politician** rather than with a registered party. His campaign garnered **162 votes**, resulting in a **6th** place finish. This election marked his highest recorded vote total among the provided data.

#### 1997 Federal Election
Nearly two decades after his first campaign, Zatzman ran in the **1997 Canadian federal election** in the riding of **Halifax West**. He rejoined the **Communist Party of Canada (Marxist–Leninist)** as his affiliated party. He finished **6th** in the riding with **70 votes** and was recorded as unelected.

### Professional Classification
Outside of his political activities, the source material classifies Gary Zatzman by his occupation. He is identified as a **programmer** (a subclass of software developer) and a **software engineer** (a practitioner of software engineering). This technical background places him within the category of professionals who write computer software and apply engineering principles to software development.

## References

1. Library of Parliament