Richard Starke | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Vermilion-Lloydminster | |
| In office April 23, 2012 – March 19, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Lloyd Snelgrove |
| Succeeded by | Garth Rowswell |
| Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation | |
| In office February 4, 2013 – September 15, 2014 | |
| Premier | Alison Redford Dave Hancock |
| Preceded by | Christine Cusanelli |
| Succeeded by | Maureen Kubinec |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 18, 1960 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
| Political party | Independent PC |
| Spouse | Alison Starke |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of Saskatchewan |
| Profession | Veterinarian |
Richard Karl Alfred Starke (born June 18, 1960) is a Canadian politician who represented the electoral district of Vermilion-Lloydminster in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. Starke was elected to his first term as MLA for Vermilion-Lloydminster on April 23, 2012. Starke was appointed the minister for Tourism, Parks, and Recreation on February 4, 2013.[1] He was not included in the Cabinet sworn in on September 15, 2014,[2] but was appointed Chair of the Rural Health Services Review Committee on September 23, 2014. He is one of only two PC MLAs to be elected outside the city of Calgary in the 2015 provincial election.
Starke ran for the leadership of the Progressive Conservatives in 2017 but was decisively beaten by Jason Kenney who campaigned on a merger with the Wildrose Party. When the merger was approved by both party memberships, Starke was the only MLA from either party to not join the United Conservative Party caucus. Richard Starke was permitted to maintain his PC status in the legislature even though the party was no longer functioning.[3]