Grand Prairie MLA won’t seek re-election

EMMA GRANEY

When the 2019 election rolls around, Grande Prairie-Wapiti MLA Wayne Drysdale won’t be seeking re-election.

After 25 years in politics, the former farmer, a member of the United Conservative Party, is retiring.

Sitting down with Postmedia, his heart on his sleeve, Drysdale nods when asked if it was a tough decision.

“It’s an honour. Not many people get the honour to sit here,” he said. He pauses, chuckling, “There I go again” as his emotions get the better of him. to eye, but she’s tried to put a smile on his face, “and he always puts one on mine,” she said.

Congratulating Drysdale on his service, Hoffman said she respects his work, his approach to politics and his focus on serving his community.

Drysdale started out in municipal politics, serving as a councillor for 15 years before pursuing a provincial government seat.

Former staffers tell stories of his time as a cabinet minister, when he would meet with anyone who asked.

His door was always open and he tried to take every call.

“It’s corny, but I go back to the old adage — you treat people the way you want to be treated,” he says.

“I think if you treat people with respect and decency, they treat you that way.”

It will be bittersweet to leave the legislature, he says, but it’s time to hand the torch to the next generation.

Drysdale has no firm plans aside from travelling and spending time with his family, including his wife Sherry, “who sacrificed a lot.”

“With the support of the community and partners, we’ve done a lot of good things over the last 25 years,” he said.

“I think I’ve left it better than I found it.”

Also stepping down at the end of their terms are fellow UCP MLAs Pat Stier of Livingstone-Macleod, Dave Schneider of Little Bow and Scott Cyr of Bonnyville-Cold Lake.

Stier is one of five Wildrosers who didn’t take part in the mass floor-crossing to the then-Progressive Conservative government in 2014.

Schneider won his seat by just 10 votes in the 2015 election.