[3] Manness served as President of the provincial Progressive Conservative Association in the early 1970s, and supported Sterling Lyon over Sidney Spivak in the divisive leadership challenge of 1975.
Manness was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba in 1981,[1] easily defeating Peter Francis of the New Democratic Party in the rural riding of Morris.
[2] Subsequently, Ransom's supporters would allege that Filmon's team had encouraged Manness to run as a means of splitting the right-wing vote.
[1] In this capacity, he presided over a re-evaluation of funding methods for the public system which resulted in government cutbacks.
[1] He later became co-President of the Canadian Alliance, and attempted to keep the party united during the controversies over Stockwell Day's leadership in 2002.