A roller-coaster of a political career has ended for former Yukon premier Pat Duncan, a Whitehorse legislator who announced Tuesday that she wouldn't seek re-election.

Duncan, the member of the legislative assembly for the Whitehorse riding of Porter Creek South, was first elected to the Yukon legislature in 1996.

Pat Duncan says she's retiring from politics to spend more time with her family, and to go back to school.

She rode a wave of political change to become premier in 2000.

Only two years later, she dissolved the legislature early to seek a new mandate, but ended up being the sole Liberal left in the legislature after voters tossed out her government in favour of the Yukon Party.

Duncan says she has no regrets in her career, and is simply stepping down to spend more time with her family. She says she's also going back to school.

"I have enrolled in the masters in public education program and it has really given me a chance to look at government from the other side, not the legislature side but the policy side," Duncan said.

"The issue is time."

The Liberals have yet to nominate a candidate for the Porter Creek South riding.

Yukon Premier Dennis Fentie has to call an election before November.

So far he hasn't said when the vote will be or whether he will recall the legislature first or send Yukoners directly to the polls.