Russell leaving provincial politics

The longest-serving member of the Nova Scotia legislature announced Wednesday he's resigning this spring.

Ron Russell, 79, MLA for Hants West, said he's leaving before the spring sitting, and he's asked not be be named to cabinet when a new party leader is chosen next month.

"We're starting off a new era as far as I'm concerned, and with a new premier I think that he has the right to fill the cabinet slots with whoever he wants," said Russell, deputy premier and minister of transportation.

Russell supports Rodney MacDonald in the race to replace John Hamm, and doesn't want to give the impression he won't serve under a different leader.

"I don't want to serve under any of them," he said with a laugh.

Russell said it's not that he doesn't admire MacDonald, Bill Black and Neil LeBlanc the three men running for the premier's job it's that he simply wants to move on.

Russell, a former fighter pilot, was first elected to the legislature in 1978 and has been re-elected seven times.

MacDonald is happy to accept Russell's endorsement and pay tribute to the longtime MLA.

"The people of Nova Scotia can be very proud of the job he's done. I think I was six years old when he got elected, and little did I know 28 years later that I'd be standing here today with him," he said.

Russell's departure will leave the minority Tory government one seat short when it comes time to vote on the budget. Hamm has already said he'll stay on as an MLA this spring because the party needs his vote.