June Draude Will Not Seek Re-election in 2016

Saskatchewan Party MLA June Draude today announced she will not be running again in the next provincial election, expected in 2016. Draude is the MLA for Kelvington-Wadena, Minister of Social Services and a founding member of the Saskatchewan Party.

“It has been an honour for me to represent the people of Kelvington-Wadena and serve the people of Saskatchewan through five terms of office,” Draude said. “We have seen remarkable change in Saskatchewan over the past 19 years since I was first elected – a new party, a new government, and most importantly, a new confidence as Saskatchewan has moved from decline to growth.”

“I am proud to be part of a government that is committed to improving the quality of life for all Saskatchewan people and I am proud of the initiatives we have undertaken to assist those in our province who need help.”

Draude was first elected as a Liberal MLA in 1995 by just 117 votes. In 1997, she joined with seven other Liberal and Progressive Conservative MLAs to form the Saskatchewan Party. As the party’s first woman MLA, Draude was a driving force in building the party in its early days and in the Saskatchewan Party’s success in its first election in 1999.

Draude saw her 117 vote margin grow to nearly 3,000 votes in 1999. In the last provincial election in 2011 Draude won by nearly 4,000 votes, earning over 78 per cent of the popular vote.

Premier Brad Wall thanked Draude for her many years of service to the party, the government and the people of Saskatchewan.

“From day one, June Draude has been the heart of the Saskatchewan Party,” Wall said. “She is the person who always reminds us that the purpose of growth is to ensure a better quality of life for all Saskatchewan people. She has been a tireless advocate for the most vulnerable in our province and has brought forward many new ideas and initiatives to help those in our province that need our support."

“She has also built Kelvington-Wadena into one of the strongest Saskatchewan Party seats in the province. I know our next candidate will work just as hard to earn the support of Kelvington-Wadena voters.”

The Saskatchewan Party has now nominated 18 candidates with 13 more nomination meetings scheduled in the coming weeks. 40 Saskatchewan Party MLAs have indicated they intend to run in the next provincial election.

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For more information: The Saskatchewan Party, 306.359.1638 or 1.800.966.9611.