Gallagher first sought public office in 1893, when he was elected to Edmonton Town Council.
In an aldermanic race in which the top six candidates were elected, he gained the final spot.
On his first term on council he sat on the Licensing, and Health & Relief committees.
He was re-elected in 1894, again placing sixth of nine candidates.
Once this term expired in 1896, Gallagher stayed out of politics for several months until mayor Herbert Charles Wilson resigned over a dispute involving town funds.
It fell to the council to fill the mayor's position.
Gallagher was nominated by John Cameron and John Kelly; as there were no rival candidates, he won by acclamation.
He was the first mayor of Edmonton never to be elected to that position; (Frederick John Mitchell and Terry Cavanagh would later join him in that distinction).
He was sworn in at the town council meeting on October 27, 1896.

During his brief term as mayor, Gallagher oversaw the town during a time when many prospectors headed to the Klondike Gold Rush saw Edmonton as a stopover point.
He also became the inaugural president of the Edmonton Hockey Club when it was founded on November 20, 1896.

In the ensuing election, Gallagher chose to run for alderman rather than seeking a full term as mayor.
 This remains the only time in the city's history that a sitting mayor has run for alderman.
 He was elected, placing fifth of nine candidates.
During this term he sat on committees involved in issues relating to finance, police and utilities (fire, water and light).
He did not seek re-election in the election in December 1897.
 In December 1898 Gallagher ran for mayor, but was defeated by William S. Edmiston.
 He stayed out of politics until 1901, when he was elected to a two-year term as alderman.
 He was defeated in his re-election bid in 1903, placing fifth of nine candidates (the staggered two year aldermanic terms meant that only three of the council's six aldermen were elected each election).
 His last bid for office took place during the 1907 election, when he placed eleventh of twelve candidates in the aldermanic race.
Gallagher first sought public office in 1893, when he was elected to Edmonton Town Council. In an aldermanic race in which the top six candidates were elected, he gained the final spot. On his first term on council he sat on the Licensing, and Health & Relief committees. He was re-elected in 1894, again placing sixth of nine candidates. Once this term expired in 1896, Gallagher stayed out of politics for several months until mayor Herbert Charles Wilson resigned over a dispute involving town funds. It fell to the council to fill the mayor's position. Gallagher was nominated by John Cameron and John Kelly; as there were no rival candidates, he won by acclamation. He was the first mayor of Edmonton never to be elected to that position; (Frederick John Mitchell and Terry Cavanagh would later join him in that distinction). He was sworn in at the town council meeting on October 27, 1896.
During his brief term as mayor, Gallagher oversaw the town during a time when many prospectors headed to the Klondike Gold Rush saw Edmonton as a stopover point. He also became the inaugural president of the Edmonton Hockey Club when it was founded on November 20, 1896.
In the ensuing election, Gallagher chose to run for alderman rather than seeking a full term as mayor.  This remains the only time in the city's history that a sitting mayor has run for alderman.  He was elected, placing fifth of nine candidates. During this term he sat on committees involved in issues relating to finance, police and utilities (fire, water and light). He did not seek re-election in the election in December 1897.  In December 1898 Gallagher ran for mayor, but was defeated by William S. Edmiston.  He stayed out of politics until 1901, when he was elected to a two-year term as alderman.  He was defeated in his re-election bid in 1903, placing fifth of nine candidates (the staggered two year aldermanic terms meant that only three of the council's six aldermen were elected each election).  His last bid for office took place during the 1907 election, when he placed eleventh of twelve candidates in the aldermanic race.
Cornelius Gallagher (Canadian politician)