 richard l. casson  (born december 30, 1948 in calgary, alberta) is a canadian politician. casson was a member of the conservative party of canada in the canadian house of commons, representing the riding of lethbridge from 1997 to 2011. ==before politics== casson is a former manager of printing services. casson was mayor of picture butte, alberta from 1986 to 1995 and a councillor before that. ==entrance to politics== in the 1997 federal election casson received 55.5% of the popular vote. he went on to receive 66% in the 2000 election, 63% support in the 2004 election and 67.3% in the 2006 election. he has been a member of the canadian alliance (2000â2003) and the reform party of canada (1997â2000). casson was the chairman of the standing committee on national defence and co-chair - permanent joint board on defence. in 2003, rick casson supported the iraq war, and in spring 2006 voted yes to the extension of canadian military deployment in afghanistan to 2009. on january 7, 2010 casson announced that he would not be running in the next election, which was held on may 2, 2011. on october 1, 2010, he was appointed to the queen's privy council for canada in recognition of "many years of dedication and hard work in the house of commons, including on canadaâs engagement in afghanistan". ==references==  ==external links== *official site *how'd they vote?: rick casson's voting history and quotes *   
1948_births Canadian_Alliance_MPs Conservative_Party_of_Canada_MPs Living_people Mayors_of_places_in_Alberta Members_of_the_House_of_Commons_of_Canada_from_Alberta Members_of_the_Queen\'s_Privy_Council_for_Canada People_from_Calgary People_from_Lethbridge Reform_Party_of_Canada_MPs