Ramsey MHK Leonard Singer is hoping to be re-elected to serve a further term of office following the House of Keys election on September 22.
Mr Singer said he took the decision ‘after much deliberation’, having been the town’s MHK for 13 years.
Since taking up residence in Ramsey 27 years ago, Mr Singer has served not only as its MHK but as a town commissioner for nine years. He has also spent three years as a member of the Legislative Council.
Currently, he is a member of the Department of Economic Development with responsibility for financial and professional services, country strategy, the companies, general, ship and aircraft registries, and the space sector.
He said the next government will need to hit the ground running and would need strong leadership.
‘We need a mix of new members and new ideas combined with the continuity and experience longer-serving politicians bring to the government,’ he said.
Mr Singer cited depleting reserves, the public sector pensions deficit and ‘continuing attacks on our transparency by countries whose own standards are questionable’ as major issues to be tackled.