Richard Starke won’t be running for reelection. The Vermilion-Lloydminster MLA and last remaining Progressive Conservative Party member confirmed Wednesday that the spring sitting of the legislature will be his last.
Starke was first elected in 2012 and ran against Jason Kenney for the leadership of the PC Party in 2017. When its members decided to merge with the Wildrose Party to become the United Conservative Party, he chose instead to stay independent.
Speaking to reporters in Edmonton, Starke said he had no regrets about that decision. He also said that while both the Alberta Party and MLA Derek Fildebrandt’s Freedom Conservative Party spoke to him about joining, he decided that wouldn’t have been right to the people who voted for him as a Progressive Conservative.
Next, Starke says he’s considering restarting his veterinary practice and may look at writing a book about his time in politics.