The longest serving elected member of the House of Assembly is calling it a political career after 28 years of service.
Health Minister, and MHA for Waterford Valley, Tom Osborne called reporters to the legislature this afternoon to announce that he will be retiring from political life this July.
Osborne was first elected as a PC in 1996, but crossed the floor in a dispute with then-premier Danny Williams, first sitting as an Independent and then joining the Liberal Party.
Last year he became the longest-serving elected official in the province’s history.
He’s served in a number of important portfolios over the years including Health and Finance.
Osborne poses in front of his portrait in the House of Assembly with his wife and children.
Osborne gave thanks to his family, colleagues, and all those who have helped him along the way.
He became emotional when discussing his constituents who have supported him for nearly three decades.
Osborne reveals that he has boxes of his campaign materials dating all the way back to his first election in 1996, including voter lists and those who have indicated they would support him.
Osborne says he never told his wife why he wanted to keep those materials until last week.
“Every once in a while I will look at the list of people who’ve committed to supporting me from each election, and look through the pages and I think ‘thank you, thank you, thank you.’ Keeping the lists of the people who’ve said they would support me was a way of holding them close and thanking them.”
Osborne will stay on as Minister of Health before officially stepping away in July.
Osborne poses in front of his portrait in the House of Assembly with his parents.
Tom Osborne. My longtime friend, trusted cabinet minister, and a record-breaking politician with nearly 30 years of service to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. Thank you, Tom, for your unwavering commitment to our province. Enjoy your well-deserved retirement! pic.twitter.com/Pu9Yjk3KYN
— Andrew Furey (@FureyAndrew) May 24, 2024
