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Rising political star had 10 a quick win, Rogala chased tickets like a junkie chases a fix Seduced by lure of '53 By PAUL LEGALL The Spectator FROM ALL outward appearances, Albin Rogala was a man of influ- fine and substance The 42-year-old real estate law- yerseemedtolmowallthelight DeOple and have all the right con- nections v' A long-standing member of tile 've Conservative party, he had acted as legal course] for the Siouey Creek hydro commixion Since 1981 and became president of' the local chamber of commerce in November of last year. '-- I Victims talk: E1 ' He wmte a column in the Stoney Creek News, hosted a legal affairs ngxam on community television a!!! was a frequent visitor at mu- nlupal cmmcil meetings where be challenged the local fathers on nu- merous mes, including the loca- tion of a new $9.2rmillion city hall. When some political big-wig popped into town, he was usually ab e to ' ey his short, portly frame to front of alde and sidle up w the visuing dlgmtary. In 1935, he worked on former Consewafive has Larry Gross man's leademlup campaign And. elm to home, he supported for- mer- Hamjlton-Wentworth regional Chaim," Bill seals and Lincoln @91th Martin. . Them was nothing flashy or ostentatious about Stoney Creek's political mover. . I nswfietha debating litlcs or dis- perm"; legal advice, was known $11118 straight-him, no-nonsase e But despite his public profile, no- mad to know riiuch about Albln Rogala's personal life As far as his co-workers knew, he was"; bachelor and lived alone with his elderly mother in a modest ltlpome on Sunrise Drive in Hamil- it He didn't appear extravagant or frivolous in any way. ' He leased rather than owned a car,hesddomfmuldfimemtake holidays and he wore suits as con- servative as hjs political shim But for several Albin Ro- gala was able to conceal a strange obsxion that would eventually drive him into financial min and He was to 10 tickets 6.1mm my Heboughtmgnwiththeblind com 'onof ' 'echasmg' his "at? "m f a a ical turday or lasttwotgl'pthreesayeaishemade the mumk of ticket outlets in SmeyCI'eekfindHamW "Where heinvstedhundrecbofdollaisin ev ' fro the 6/49 draw to emit, a." ttery addiction . He also made the occasional Wedlmday night foray into the fidde realm of chance. At the Eastdale Variety and the lottery Hop, two of his stops, he ususally handed the clerk an envelope with $400 for 6/49 Quick Pik and lottario tickets and told her to reme any previous At E: Lottery Hop, located at; Jackson Square, the clerks ;. ammaihewasbuyingticketsfor: a group. _ ~ - "He was always busmesrlike I , gottoknowhimsowellhe'djist say'tllelisilal'He'dhandmethe envelo and leave to wander , the mall while I at the ' tickets," afemale clerk ed. '1 "He once told me that he wm $5,000 (as well as smaller amounts) ' as of a group," she added olice stimate he bought about I 300000 worth of tickets from Continued on A2 . »