(Starting Dec. 22 and ending Dec. 31, GuelphToday will count down its top 10 stories of 2017.)
It was a teary-eyed Liz Sandals that stood in her office on a cold October morning and announced that she was stepping away from politics after her current term of office.
Sandals chose not to run in the next provincial election, scheduled for June.
She has represented the Guelph riding since 2003, winning four straight provincial elections.
"It's just time to relax a bit," said Sandals, 69, and spend some more time with the grandchildren.
“This time it just seemed like (turning) 70, that sort of symbolic crossing the line, and you look forward to the end of another government and I would be 74."
Premier Kathleen Wynne, in a written statement, said Sandals “is one of the most competent, caring people I’ve ever worked with.”
“Today I want to thank Liz for a job well done and wish her all the best in retirement … It is inspiring to think what Liz has been able to accomplish in 30-years of public life," Wynne said.
The local riding association will be selecting a new candidate early in the new year.
