Longtime Liberal MLA Gary McRobb confirmed today he will not seek to retain his Kluane seat in this fall's election.

McRobb, who has served four terms, is the only Liberal MLA to say he will step down from politics at the end of this term.

"It's been 15 years and that's longer than I ever imagined,” McRobb told the Star this morning. "It's time to move on and do other things.”

As for what other things McRobb might be doing, the 55-year-old MLA wouldn't say if he will stay in the public workforce, move to the private sector, or if retirement is on the horizon.

"I don't have anything specific planned. I will wait and see what I feel like doing,” said McRobb.

"Fortunately, I've still got my health after 15 years of politics, and there are lots of things to do in this world.”

Liberal Leader Arthur Mitchell told the Star this morning he knows McRobb has been wrestling with the issue of whether to seek re-election for quite some time.

"He decided in the end that 15 years is enough,” said Mitchell.

"McRobb is retiring with the class of '96, with people like Dennis Fentie and already retired Pat Duncan.”

Duncan, a Liberal premier from 2000 to 2002, did not run in the 2006 election.

McRobb's pending departure will make Mayo-Tatchun MLA Eric Fairclough, who was also first elected in 1996, the longest-serving Liberal MLA, said Mitchell. Like McRobb, Fairclough defected to the Liberals from the New Democrats before the 2006 election.

Mitchell thanked McRobb for what he described as his four terms of hard work, especially with his Kluane constituency and on the energy file.

McRobb emphasized his decision to not run is not related to the coming election.

"This has nothing to do with the chances of re-election,” he said.

"I made the decision months ago, and it was just a matter of getting everything lined up, timing-wise, to make this announcement.”

In a July 29 letter to his constituents, McRobb wrote that the passings of two immediate family members in the past two years were also a factor in his decision to leave politics. (See letter )

McRobb didn't want to comment on what he considers his greatest accomplishments in the past 15 years.

"I don't want to get into blowing my own horn on things I might have accomplished,” he said.

He did, though, say spending time working with constituents in rural areas like Beaver Creek, Burwash Landing, Destruction Bay and Mendenhall Landing was one of the best parts of his job.

The longtime MLA did want to comment on the functionality of the government.

"There's so much that could be said about a multitude of issues, from the way the legislature operates to the role of the caucus and how each party functions. Even rural ridings versus Whitehorse ridings – the list goes on,” said McRobb.

"There are so many aspects that should be examined and improved in the future.”

The retiring MLA said these issues are for "another day” and "other people” to work on.

McRobb's advice to his 15-year younger self would be simple: move fast, because it's harder to hit a moving target.

"When you're in politics, you're always a target, whether it's with other parties or the media or whatever else.

"You've got to have a thick skin. You've got to be able to duck and manoeuvre, or you're going to get hit quite often.”

A potential Liberal candidate has yet to put his or her name forward for the Kluane riding, but an announcement is expected later this week.

Mike Crawshay and Wade Istchenko are vying for the Yukon Party nomination. Voting will take place from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Old Community Hall in Haines Junction.

Former Haines Junction mayor Eric Stinson is seeking the NDP nomination for the same riding.