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Lee SP&x ( Grills Won't Run By Lenny Williamson Staff Reporter Lee Grills i r B e l l e villa's "Friendly Milkman" lias retired from political life. Lee Grills announced this morning that he will not be in the running for the Conservatives in the Oct. 30 federal elect- tion. In an emotion - filled state- ment to the press, the 68-year- old Belleville politician who represented Hastings in parlia- Lenny Williamson nient for 13 years, said he had decided to step down from ac- tive political life *' while tht riding is in a strong position, "This has been a very diffi- cult decision -- otherwise I wouldn't have left it so long,** said Mr. Grills. "I have had hundreds of calls of support for tony running again, I trust I ipave made a worthwhile con- tribution to my riding and to ~)anada." No other field of endeavor has offered him "more challanges and rewards than my exper- ience in the Canadian parlia- ment" he added. Mr. Grills first entered public life in 1948 as a councillor ia the township cf Sidney. He ser- ved as deputy - reeve, reeve and warden of Hastings county before running in his first fed- eral election in 1953. Mr, Grills was defeated by Frank Follwell but returned to take the riding in 1957. He has represented Hastings ever since, except for the two years between 1963 and 1965 when the -seal was held by' Robert Temple, GRILLS (Continued on Page 2) Grills : Continued From Page 1 During his parliamentary career, Mr. Grills became known across Canada as Belle- ville's FrienT.y Milkman. The nickname came from the sio- gan of Lee Grills Dairy, the firm he ope rated for 23 years as Your Friendly Milkman. "I am quite concerned about some of the legislation and the downward trend in the dig- nity of the House of Commons and in our parliamentary sys- tem ever the last four years/ said Mr. Grills today. Of his own personal political philosophy, Mr. Grills said, "I've always thought that af- ter election day is over we should raise o u r thoughts above party politics and serve all the people in the riding." "I have never asked anyone how he voted--I tried to serve all my constituants equally. I get an average of 500 tele- phone calls a month and it certainly adds to a wonder- ful public relationship. As he stepped down from active political life Mr. Grills paid tribute to his wife, now in the intensive care unit at Belleville General Hospital with a heart condition. "She has been my running mate/' he said. "She r a n the riding for me and cam- paigned for me every day. A deep concern for her health has influenced my decision." But Mr. Grills will not give uppolitics entirely. He will be in there after the Conser- vative nomination meeting, working for the election of the PC candidate. SepV 1C; /q72