Rich Coleman says heB次元官网网址檒l miss the people the most.

After 24 years in politics, the Langley MLA is retiring, timing his announcement for Saturday to coincide with the anniversary of his first nomination on Feb. 29, 1996. He was elected for the first time on May 28, 1996.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 time to hang up the skates,B次元官网网址� Coleman said.

Coleman explained he was making the announcement now out of consideration for his party colleagues, who need to be ready for the next provincial election.

It wasnB次元官网网址檛 an easy decision.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 gut-wrenching, actually,B次元官网网址� Coleman told the Langley Advance Times during an interview in his office at the Langley Events Centre (LEC) shortly before making it public.

He started seriously considering retirement after a friend told him he was B次元官网网址渁t the very edge of having stayed too long,B次元官网网址� then made his decision after talking it over with his wife, Michele.

On the day of the interview, he was using a large desk in his LEC office meeting room to fill out birthday cards for constituents, cards that were hand-made by Michele and her scrapbooking group.

B次元官网网址淎 lot of these go out to some cool people,B次元官网网址� he commented.

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HeB次元官网网址檚 enjoyed his time in politics, especially the opportunity to go places and meet people.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been in probably every dam in British Columbia, most mines B次元官网网址� underground and above ground B次元官网网址� [and] through mills and pulp mills.B次元官网网址�

His personal highlights list includes four years as provincial Solicitor-General B次元官网网址� where Coleman, a former RCMP officer, oversaw a communications overhaul that allowed different police forces and RCMP detachments in B.C. to directly share information.

He also cited his part in negotiating a settlement to the softwood lumber dispute with the U.S. that he felt gave the B.C. forest industry nine years of peace and stability.

In addition, he recounted his tour of duty as minister in charge of housing, travelling abroad to educate the world about B.C.B次元官网网址檚 considerable reserves of natural gas, getting the Pacific Autism Centre in Richmond built, and the opportunity to talk with actor Martin Sheen at an event where Sheen spoke out about the personal impact of addiction.

People make the job rewarding

It is the people part of politics Coleman likes the best, calling it B次元官网网址渙ne of the most rewarding parts of the job.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e got such great stories and friends that IB次元官网网址檝e made, just in this community,B次元官网网址� Coleman recounted.

B次元官网网址淓ven those who donB次元官网网址檛 like, or who are opposed to you, they usually treat you with respect and you can have a decent conversation with them.B次元官网网址�

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Being an opposition party politician has been quite different from being part of the government of the day makes the decisions, Coleman related.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 almost like you come to a skidding stop,B次元官网网址� is how he described the switch from government to opposition benches following the defeat of the BC Liberals B次元官网网址� led by Christy Clark B次元官网网址� and his temporary stint as acting party leader.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not the 70 hours a week [you put in] when youB次元官网网址檙e a cabinet minister. From morning to night, youB次元官网网址檙e on the go.B次元官网网址�

He has learned how to use Facebook and Twitter and email blasts to get his message across, but he isnB次元官网网址檛 convinced social media can truly substitute for sitting down and actually talking to people, face-to-face.

B次元官网网址淵ou lose that connection with people [when] itB次元官网网址檚 all done electronically,B次元官网网址� Coleman believes.

He may be leaving politics, but he isnB次元官网网址檛 giving up public life, he stressed.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not done. IB次元官网网址檝e got some ideas for some other adventures,B次元官网网址� Coleman declared, without going into detail.

B次元官网网址淎s far as IB次元官网网址檓 concerned, I have one more career left in me.B次元官网网址�

His health is good.

At 66, Coleman is 85 pounds lighter than he was in 2013, a fact that has allowed him to better manage his Type 2 diabetes.

He got his weight down by drinking lots of water and walking.

His intention is to keep working as MLA until the next election, one he thinks the Liberals have a shot at taking.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a 50-50 chance that we can win that election,B次元官网网址� Coleman predicted.

Appreciated the confidence of voters

He would like the people who voted for him to know that he is grateful.

B次元官网网址淭hey gave me a real privilege,B次元官网网址� Coleman said.

B次元官网网址淭hey gave me the most enriching opportunity anybody could ask for. I hope when they look back on me, that theyB次元官网网址檒l look at me and say, well, he did what he thought was the best for the community and people he served.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭here just is no better community,B次元官网网址� he said of Langley. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just a real caring place.B次元官网网址�

Preparing for his so-called retirement, he said he is definitely looking forward to having more time for family.

B次元官网网址淚 have been so lucky,B次元官网网址� he said of his 45-year marriage, his two children, and seven grandchildren.

BC Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson issued the following statement in response to Rich ColemanB次元官网网址檚 announcement that he will not seek re-election:

B次元官网网址淒uring his 24 years in provincial politics and six terms in the Legislative Assembly, Rich was instrumental in the landmark accomplishments of successive BC Liberal governments. Among many achievements as a cabinet minister, he oversaw the delivery of a record number of new housing units for vulnerable British Columbians, stickhandled the softwood lumber file through challenging times, and laid the foundation for an LNG industry that will support British ColumbiaB次元官网网址檚 prosperity for generations to comeB次元官网网址� helping to improve the lives of people all over BC.

B次元官网网址淩ich has also been an articulate and consistent voice for the unity of our free enterprise coalition B次元官网网址� always stepping up to support his BC Liberal colleagues through numerous campaigns, including as provincial campaign co-chair. During the last BC Liberal leadership contest, he stepped up to serve in a critical role as Interim Leader of the Official Opposition B次元官网网址� keeping our team of MLAs united, focused, and effective.B次元官网网址淣early a quarter-century in public life requires significant personal sacrifices. In addition to recognizing Rich for his years of service to the people of Fort Langley-Aldergrove, Langley East, and all of British Columbia,we thank his wife Michele, and their children and grandchildren, for generously sharing Rich with our team.B次元官网网址�

dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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