The New Democrats' Swift Current candidate has withdrawn from the race at the request of NDP Leader Lorne Calvert.
The surprise development came Monday after New Democrat Jeff Potts, who was running in Swift Current against Saskatchewan Party Leader Brad Wall, became embroiled in a controversy over his online communications.
Potts has recently been writing posts on an internet chat site, using the name Famouspipeliner instead of his own name, alleging that Wall's father John is putting campaign signs on his rental property.
One property with a Brad Wall sign is a known crack house, Famouspipeliner said in a separate posting.
The Saskatchewan Party issued a news release Monday morning saying Potts' comments were libellous. It also said Wall's father does not currently own rental properties.
Potts said he was trying to run a clean campaign, until Saskatchewan Party supporters began threatening to sully his good name.
He decided to fight back and admitted he has done the odd bit of trash talking on the website Rabble.ca.
"I mean, I shouldn't admit that I'm the one posting on Rabble, but it is true; there's a house where hard drugs are used," he said. "I had a couple of young guys come over and knock on my door and say, 'You wouldn't believe where this Brad Wall sign is.'"
On the website, Potts also alleged Wall "appropriated" $15,000 worth of booze for his 1991 wedding when he worked for a cabinet minister in the former Progressive Conservative government.
That's something the former chair of the Saskatchewan Liquor Board, Ted Urness, denies in a 2006 letter.
"I can state unequivocally that these rumours are absolutely false," Urness said in the e-mailed letter.
Saskatchewan Party MLA Don McMorris said he has never seen a nastier campaign.
"You know we all get into this politics knowing that there's going to be some knocks against us, but nobody gets into it to have knocks against their family," he said. "It's unacceptable, it's the lowest of the low."
McMorris urged Calvert to remove Potts and hours later, Calvert did.
"Given the circumstances, I asked Mr. Potts to withdraw and he has agreed," Calvert said in a news release. "I believe appropriate action has now been taken."
According to the NDP news release, New Democrats feel the comments Potts made about Brad Wall and his family are "inaccurate and inappropriate."
NDP candidate Robert Hale made the deadline for candidates to file their nomination papers with Elections Saskatchewan — 2 p.m. Monday — to take Potts' place in Swift Current.
Saskatchewan Votes 2007 »
- Saskatchewan Party wins majority government
- Only 10 years into its existence as a political force, the Saskatchewan Party will form a majority government and its leader Brad Wall will be the new premier.
- NDP had a 'good run in government'
- A desire for change pushed the NDP out of 16 years of rule in Saskatchewan, but leader Lorne Calvert said the party has no regrets.
- Liberals fail again to elect single MLA
- The third time was not a charm for Liberal Leader David Karwacki, as voters in Saskatoon Meewasin rebuffed his efforts for elected office.
- Shift in urban vote handed seats to Sask. Party
- The seeds of victory were sown in Regina and Saskatoon, where the Saskatchewan Party picked up five seats — but there were gains in other urban areas, too, that helped seal the election win.
- NDP holds on in Regina, but loses 3 seats
- Fortress Regina continued to stand for the NDP when the dust of Wednesday's election had settled, though its foundation was shaken by a trio of Saskatchewan Party wins.
Constituency Profiles
More Saskatchewan Votes Headlines »
- Saskatchewan Party wins majority government
- Only 10 years into its existence as a political force, the Saskatchewan Party will form a majority government and its leader Brad Wall will be the new premier.
- NDP had a 'good run in government'
- A desire for change pushed the NDP out of 16 years of rule in Saskatchewan, but leader Lorne Calvert said the party has no regrets.
- Liberals fail again to elect single MLA
- The third time was not a charm for Liberal Leader David Karwacki, as voters in Saskatoon Meewasin rebuffed his efforts for elected office.
- Shift in urban vote handed seats to Sask. Party
- The seeds of victory were sown in Regina and Saskatoon, where the Saskatchewan Party picked up five seats — but there were gains in other urban areas, too, that helped seal the election win.
- NDP holds on in Regina, but loses 3 seats
- Fortress Regina continued to stand for the NDP when the dust of Wednesday's election had settled, though its foundation was shaken by a trio of Saskatchewan Party wins.
