The recent resignation of Alberta Liberal leader David Swann was a move that surprised and saddened the president of the Lac La Biche-St. Paul-Two Hills Liberal Constituency Association.
Amil Shapka said he knew Swann personally for 15 to 20 years outside of politics, and that the provincial Grits’ chief “had a lot of very good qualities which served this province well.”
Swann, who was elected leader of the party on December 2008, announced his intention to step down from the position during a media conference at the Alberta Legislature last Tuesday morning, a week after Premier Ed Stelmach announced that he would not be seeking re-election.
However, Swann didn’t state a reason for his departure, set for after the spring session of the legislature, but said the decision and timing for the decision was his own.
In a statement thanking Swann for his contributions to the party, released on the Alberta Liberal Party’s website on Wednesday, party president Erick Ambtman acknowledged Swann for his leadership in tackling the party’s debt and modernizing and opening up the party’s operations.
Ambtman also credited Swann’s leadership for the party, introducing “bold and thoughtful policies on issues of concern to Albertans, from clean government to the oil and gas industry.”
Shapka thought that Swann may have felt that resigning would be in the best interest of the party to present new opportunities in the wake of Stelmach’s resignation. “I think many people are viewing this as an opportunity to reboot the party and perhaps re-energize and improve our chances for the next election.”
Shayne Saskiw, local Wildrose Alliance candidate, thanked Swann for his contributions as leader of the opposition leader in a news release sent to the Journal on Wednesday.
“Dr. Swan has always conducted himself with class and integrity and demonstrated courage in standing up for his convictions,” the release read. Saskiw said he had met David Swann, and although he didn’t agree with his politics, he acknowledged that Swann is a “ very good and decent man, and was certainly trying his best to further the province on a variety of policy issues.”
The departure would leave a void in the political system, Saskiw felt, because the Liberals are still the official opposition but will not have a leader. The Wildrose Alliance has to fill the void, and “make sure the current government is held accountable,” he said.
Following the resignations of Stelmach and Swann, the issue of leadership is one that will come up for the PCs and the Liberals in the next year.
Shapka said he doesn’t share the view that the success of the Liberal party depends on a charismatic leader. “I’m not sure leadership is the answer. It’s probably people think if you have a charismatic leader that’s going to capture the hearts and minds of the people that people are going to line up and support (him or her).”
Whatever the case, he had warm wishes for Swann’s future, saying, “I think (Swann) is probably going to do what’s in the best interest of Albertans, I think, and not necessarily as head of the party.”
