Career
Shrake was first elected to Calgary city council on October 25, 1971. He served as a municipal councilor until resigning after winning a seat in the provincial legislature in 1982. While still serving as an for the City of Calgary, Shrake ran as a Progressive Conservative candidate in the 1982 Alberta general election.
He would run for his second term in office in the 1986 Alberta general election.
This race proved to be a lot closer for Shrake as his popular vote was cut in half from 1982. Shrake would run for a third and final term in the 1989 Alberta general election.
He would gain enough popular support to defeat New Democrat candidate Bill Flookes by just over 100 votes. Shrake retired from provincial politics at dissolution of the Assembly in 1993.