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Jim Black announces he will step away from politics

Apr 16, 2019 | 11:36 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – After losing the Brooks-Medicine Hat MLA seat to the UCP’s Michaela Glasgo, Alberta Party candidate Jim Black has announced he will be stepping away from politics.

“I’ve already been talking to a couple people about running in the next one,” explained Black. “We’ve got a couple really strong, young individuals who will step forward. I’m going to do everything I can to see that they do that and help them the best that I can, but for me, this is the last run.”

Black first threw his name into the political race back in 2015 for the Alberta Party.

Since then, he feels they have made significant strides forward.

“We were better prepared as a Party for one thing and I think, when I look back on what I learned from the last election, was the fact that we had to be prepared much earlier than what we were, so I tried to do that.”

Even though he came up short in this election, the 75-year-old Black has no regrets.

“I did the best I could preparing to challenge a front-runner when you’re the underdog. Knocked on as many doors as my knees could stand. Went to every forum, prepared for every forum, did the best I could at every forum. So, I didn’t leave anything on the table.” 

Now, Black plans to relax a little and get back into his regular routine.

“Well, just maintain my teaching job out in Bow Island. Still love teaching. Nothing changes for me in that regard. It was kind of in a win-win. If I was lucky enough to be an MLA, that would be a good learning experience and if I didn’t win, which looks like the case, I can still keep teaching and I fully enjoy doing that.”