The day after David Swann was elected leader of the Alberta Liberal Party, I cancelled my monthly contribution to the Decore Plan. I further decided, on that day, not to renew my party membership when it came up for renewal at the end of the year.
A short time later when the Calgary Glenmore by-election was called, I refused to work for candidate Avalon Roberts — a woman I had supported in two previous provincial elections.
It was a tough decision for me, primarily because Donn Lovett, a man I respect, was her campaign manager. But I believed then, as I believe now, that David Swann is a flake.
Today, my friend Dave Taylor, MLA for Calgary Currie, left the Alberta Liberal Party caucus to sit as an independent. In explaining why he made such a dramatic decision he made reference to Swann often acting like he is “living on another planet”.
Good for Taylor! I will never forget David Swann’s decision to camp out in front of Stephen Harper’s office and undertake a hunger strike over Darfur. At the time, ALP Leader Kevin Taft, Dave Taylor and my good friend Craig Cheffins were hard at work trying to provide an effective opposition to the reigning Conservatives.
I have never forgiven Swann for that incredibly self-serving act of mock martyrdom. While everybody else in the provincial caucus was out working their butts off doing what their constituents elected them to do, Swann was reclining in a lawn chair in front of a federal politician’s office and making regular appearances on the evening news.
Granted, there are many other events in this man’s history that lead one inevitably to the conclusion that David Swann is a flake. But this event, more than any other, helped make my mind up.
It was a mistake to elect him leader in the first place. But it is an even bigger mistake to allow him to continue in role now that a credible man like Dave Taylor can no longer sit with him in caucus.
